FG distributes 500 threshers, 100 power tillers to farmers

In a determined move to ensure food security, the Federal Government last week Thursday distributed 500 threshers and 100 power tillers, to 12 States, a step which is expected to fast-track agricultural mechanization and reduce billions spent on food importation.

The 12 benefiting states are: Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Enugu, Ebony, Taraba, Adamawa, Oyo, Niger, Katsina, Bayelsa and Anambra state.

“By the distribution of these machines for the purpose of boosting rice and wheat production,government is making good its promise on rice sufficiency and reducing import bill which gulps a lot of nation’s foreign reserve,” said Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“We are also taking these step on agricultural mechanization to ensure that our younger generation get interested in farming activities as the average age of our farmer is now 65 which is risky for our journey on food sufficiency”Ogbeh explained.

According to the minister,  the country in another two years will have about 5000 of the machines in farms,a move he expect will keep luring more young people into agribusiness.

“We also target 95 percent of these machines to be fabricated  In Ibadan, Ilorin and Kaduna states within few years to ensure we encourage local production,” Ogbe added.

Nigeria imports $5 million worth of rice daily,and a slightly higher amount on wheat,a move industry analysts said is no longer sustainable as the country is constantly witnessing depletion of foreign reserve amid dwindling revenue resources.

It would be noted that the federal government has during the week constituted a national task force for the production of rice and wheat ,a step analyst said could advance Nigeria’s food security steps.

Nigeria needs 7 million tons of rice annually to attain rice sufficiency.

In this respect, Ebonyi state commissioner of agriculture whose state benefited from the thriller and thresher told BusinessDay that the state has about 800 rice processing mills and clusters.

It has 20 metric tonnes per hour capacity rice mills which puts the total number of rice production in Ebonyi state.

“At 500 metric tonnes, as we are targeting 10 percent of rice needs to the federal government and ensuring we surpass Kebbi state,which currently leads in rice production” the commissioner informed.

Harrison Edeh