20th April, 2017
The Anambra Government said on Thursday it had provided 150 functional tractors to aid farmers in cultivating their land in the 2017 farming season.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Afam Mbanefo said the provision of the tractors was part of efforts to promote mechanised farming in the state.
Mbanefo said in an interview in Awka on Thursday that the tractors would be hired to farmers at subsidised rate.
“We have over 150 tractors that have been fixed and ready for hiring by farmers to engage in mechanized farming this season.
“They are being hired at affordable amount and since the rain has started on time this season there is hope for bountiful harvest,” he said.
The commissioner said that to ensure that the tractors remain operational, the state government engaged trained engineers to service and maintain them.
“Now that we have these tractors in place, we have engaged the services of trained engineers to be on standby to service them whenever anyone of them breaks down.
“In so doing, we want to make sure that the tractors are always in working condition for farmers to use,” he said.