Enugu state government says it will create 3,600 jobs in it’s Tractor Assembling plant located at the old Daily Star office Enugu, disclosing that it has already received 100 tractors being first batch of the 1000 tractors the state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah promised during his electioneering campaign.
Pix: Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Patrick Ubru( middle)
Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Patrick Ubru disclosed that to newsmen on Monday after receiving the tractors and inspecting the facilities at the Enugu state Tractor Leasing Company.
He said the tractors would be distributed to farmers at the on set of this year’s farming season, explaining that they will boost agricultural production in the state through mechanized farming.
According to the Commissioner, the gesture was a fulfilment of the Governor’s manifesto . He added that mechanized Agriculture will increase productivity up to 200 folds. . “Farming will be easier . Farming will now become a business, ” he said.
Pix: Tractors Assembling plant
Ubru added that the tractors were imported from Denmark by Notrac. ” We also saw the implements to be assembled. They have assured us that in 60 to 90 days, another 100 tractors will be brought and remaining 800 will be assembled in Enugu. ” When this happens a lot of jobs will be created. A lot of values will be added to our economy, ” he said..
Ubru commended Governor Mbah for the gesture, noting that he had not seen such gesture in agricultural sector before. He disclosed that the tractors had been tested and confirmed to be a 75 horse power capacity. “We have the opportunity to upgrade the capacities of the machines based on productivity in our agriculture. We are looking at 200 folds,” he said.
On how the tractors will be managed, the Commissioner said the Governor was constructing 260 farm estates in the 260 political wards in the state, some farmers had registered . and the tractors will be given to the registered farmers
Pix: Ubru
According to him, ” The farmers estate will be a One-stop – shop ,, each with 200 farmers in a farm estate. there will be mechanized farming,, improved seeds and extension of farmers services.
” It is easy to manage. The 200 farmers had been profiled. We know they are using the tractors . In the ministry of Agriculture, 66,000 farmers registered across the value chain. We are expected to register 52 hectares of land”, Ubru said..
He disclosed that Enugu State tractor service centre will house the tractor Assembling plant, the tractor hiring centre and a training centre. Ubru said, so far, a total of 100 drivers had been trained and more people will be trained
According to him , the Assembling plant will also serve as a workshop for repairing of faulty tractors for sustainability
Ubru added that modalities have been put in place to ensure that the tractors were distributed to registered farmers with emphasis on maintenance culture and accountability to avoid misuse of the machines.
There will be a farmland at the premises, the commissioner also said..
Speaking with newsmen,, the chairman of All Farmers Association, Enugu State chapter, Romanus Anayo Eze thanked Governor Mbah for his kind gesture . He said Mbah is a farmers-friendly Governor, He promised that farmers will make judicious use of the tractors and increase food production in the state.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama