Categories: Benue news

Gov. Ortom launches sale of 50 tractors to farmers at 60% subsidy

Govenor Samuel Ortom today launched the sale of 50 units of Tractors to Benue farmers at 60 per cent subsidy, to encourage commercial crop production in the state.

The Governor who performed the ceremony at Benue Peoples House Makurdi, said the tractors, which were procured at the cost of N13.9 million were being given to beneficiaries at highly subsidised rate of N5.6 million representing only 40 per cent of the total cost, while the State Government will bear 60% of the cost.

“This implies that of the subsidized cost, beneficiaries will pay the sum of N5,600,000.00 per Tractor, while Government will bear the remaining 60% cost of N8,397,000.00 (Eight Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand Naira) per unit of Tractor. This gesture is to enable our farmers afford the Tractors”, the Governor stated.

He said each local government would get one unit of the tractors while functional cooperatives and individual farmers would also benefit, stressing that monies recovered from the sales would be used to procure more units of tractors for the benefit of farmers.

According to the Governor, the tractors which came with all their accessories must be used strictly within the state to help maintain its status as Food Basket of the Nation, cautioning that any tractor seen operating outside the state would be impounded and the sale revoked in accordance with the agreement between the beneficiaries and Government.

Governor Ortom directed Council Caretaker Chairmen of the 23 local government areas to liaise with Benue Agriculture and Rural Development Authority, BNARDA to train extension workers who would encourage mass crop production, noting that land clearing had already been captured in the 2020 Budget and would be implemented to encourage farming.

The Governor also condemned attacks on Jootar in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State as well as the crisis at Tyo-Mu in Makurdi and sued for calm, assuring that he would soon meet with his Taraba State counterpart on the roadmap to peace in border communities of the two states.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Timothy Ijir, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Helen Atom, said the desire of the state to increase crop production through mechanization to encourage food security neccessitated the purchase of the tractors.

Others who spoke at the event were ALGON Chairman Benue State, Mr. Anthony Shawon, Tor Lobi, Chief Moses Anagende, State Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Mr. Aondongu Saaku and representative of Women in Agriculture, Mrs. Ngizan Chahur. They all commended the Benue State Government for the initiative and promised judicious use of the tractors.

Ben Idah

Recent Posts

BREAKING: APC Crisis: Court of Appeal dismisses Moses Agaba’s appeal against Austin Agada

The Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by…

1 hour ago

BBNaija’s Phyna publicly rejects family, drops surname

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Josephine Ijeoma Otabor, also known as Phyna, has publicly…

1 hour ago

Yemi Alade slams Cool FM, Clout Africa over blacklisting, refusal to forgive

Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has criticized prominent media outlets Cool FM and Clout Africa, accusing…

2 hours ago

BREAKING: Relief as Lakurawa terrorists flee Nigeria after military intervention

Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, has announced that the Nigerian military successfully expelled the…

2 hours ago

BREAKING: Supreme Court nullifies National Lottery Act, grants states exclusive control

The Supreme Court has struck down the National Lottery Act of 2005, ruling that the…

2 hours ago

Latest update on fuel price hike, fuel scarcity for November 22nd, 2024

As Nigerians express their frustrations over the recent fuel price hikes by the Nigerian National…

7 hours ago