By Egena Sunday Ode
The Federal Government has started taking delivery of 2000 tractors it ordered from Belazus for distribution to farmers in the country.
This measure is amomg numerous initiatives aimed at ensuring national food security in the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari who disclosed this on Tuesday said 255 of the 2000 tractors have so far been received in the country.
According to him, 85 containers, each carrying 3 tractors among other equipment have arrived the country in batches
He said with this development, government is also focused on crashing the price of food commodities in the country, hence the adoption of new measures by the authorities to make farming seamless.
Kyari who the guest at the 2025 edition of ‘Meet the Press’ organized by the Media Department of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that food prices have also begun to drop due to what he described as “good rainfall, a bumper harvest”, as well as effective government policies.
“The 2024 farming season was very successful, with farmers across the country recording high yields. the government is working to sustain this progress by supporting wheat farming in highland areas like Taraba State and providing modern farming tools to farmers,” Kyari stated.
The Minister said cutting edge technology including the use of drones would also be introduced in the new farming season to boost food production.
“We have started taking delivery of the 2000 tractors we ordered from Belarus which will be distributed to farmers, the government will also be focusing on increasing tomato farming in the South-East and South-West, with harvests expected by May.
“For the dry season, we are planning to cultivate at least 400,000 more hectares of farmland and fertilizer supplies are being improved to help farmers boost their output.
“The government is committed to supporting farmers with the resources they need to produce more food and reduce the cost of living.”
He also stated that Nigeria’s agriculture sector is growing stronger and will continue to improve in 2025, adding that development partners are showing greater confidence in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, adding that the level of trust and collaboration has never been seen before, reflecting the positive impact of the government’s policies and progress in the sector.
“With improved farming practices, better tools, and increased production, Nigeria is becoming a stronger player in agriculture, attracting more support and partnerships from global organizations.
“The government will continue to build on this momentum to further boost the sector and strengthen food security in the country,” he said.
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