Federal government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere, an Agricultural Machinery Company to enhance mechanised farming.
Gatekeepers News reports that this was in furtherance to the Ministry of Agriculture’s production of 2000 tractors to annually enhance mechanised farming to boost food production, food and nutrition security, job creation and others.
During the signing, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, noted that it was a follow-up to the meeting between Nigeria’s Vice President Ibrahim Shettima and top officials of John Deere at the recent World Food Prize Foundation held in lowa, USA.
Kyari said the strategic partnership aims to establish a tractor plant in Nigeria reflecting the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising agriculture and promoting self-sufficiency in food production.
The Minister highlighted the multifaceted benefits of this initiative, including increased food production, employment opportunities and advancement in the nation’s food and nutrition.
He explained that JohnDeere was a leading development manufacturing of Agricultural Machinery and was over 186 years and have the experience with good brand name that had been in the forefront of Agriculture.
While stressing that John Deere (Asia Private Limited) had the experience and record, Kyari noted that the company would train artisans on how to operate the Machinery.
He added that government would not off-take the tractors after production but provide the enabling environment to make the tractors affordable at low-interest rate to Nigerian farmers and boost all-year round farming.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe said, “Everyone is excited about it and to put pen to paper today is a realization of that promise, getting the MoU signed, other activities would follow with implementation.”
Dr. Umakhihe added that the MoU was generic and would usher in more MoU’s and guidelines on implementing the agreement reached.
In his remarks, the Vice President of John Deere, Jason Braintley noted that the agreement signifies a shared vision among the parties involved to scale up proven practices in Nigeria.
He emphasized the importance of matching the right implements with the right tractor in specific areas considering the diverse conditions across the country.
