Czech Republic Firm Signs Agreement With Taraba Govt To Supply 750 Tractors

Chuwang Emmanuel

An international company; Knight A. S from the Czech Republic, on Tuesday, signed an agreement with Taraba state government to supply 750 assorted tractors and technical assistance to help boost agriculture in the state.

According to a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary, to Governor Agbu Kefas, Yusuf Sanda the tractors would be delivered within the first 100 days of the administration.

UNIVERSALREPORTERS gathered that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the supply of the tractors was signed in 2021 by the immediate past governor, Darius Ishaku but the equipment was not supplied due to a lack of clearance from the federal government.

The statement disclosed that the firm is expected to supply 750 new global multi-purpose mini tractors and 100 sets of Cabrio compact tractors, accessories, tools, and spare parts for small and medium-scale farmers at the cost of 150 million euros.

Sanda said the immediate intervention by the governor is in line with his commitment to, “taking a giant step towards kick-starting the revitalization of the agricultural sector in the state.”

“Kefas reiterated the commitment of his administration to collaborate with foreign investors to modernize farming practices in the state so that local farmers can compete globally.

UNIVERSALREPORTERS gathered that despite the so-called efforts of the last administration that over 150 tractors were delivered within two years of Ishaku’s eight years the state could boast of only about 30 government tractors across the 16 local government areas.

A source within the state Ministry of Agriculture, Tractor Hiring Unit Department, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that out of the about 30 tractors at the department, only about 16 were functional.

The source also disclosed that the mini tractors that were purchased by the government to sell to small-scale farmers at subsidised prices with flexible means of payment were diverted and bought by government officials who in turn hired them out to the farmers at exorbitant rates.

Between 2018 and 2019, Ishaku, bought 160 tractors, 60 Massey Ferguson tractors, and 100 mini tractors.

During the distribution, Ishaku accused THU of failure hence the “need to change strategies.”

A farmer Ibrahim Usaini, who spoke with UNIVERSALREPORTERS said the nonavailability of tractors and high cost of hiring is affecting high yield and food prices, “the tractors are scarce and even when you get it the cost of hiring it is always high.”

“Almost all the tractors bought by the last administration to help farmers were bought and diverted by top government officials, we learned that some were taken to some north-central states, a situation that is causing us hardship,” Usaini alleged.

The Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Wukari LGA, Ishaya Gani, who spoke with UNIVERSALREPORTERS confirmed that tractors were actually purchased by the last administration but were sold to individuals on loan.

Gani said the initiative by the present administration to prioritize small-scale and medium-scale farmers in the distribution of the “soon to arrive” tractors will no doubt boost food production and security in the state.

Efforts to speak with officials of the THU failed as the head of the unit claimed that he can only speak when he gets clearance from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Likewise, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture also refused to speak, saying the ministry has submitted its reports to the government through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Timothy Kataps.