The All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, on Tuesday received farm equipment worth N5 million from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the equipment included rice transplanter, 3HP water pump, multipurpose thresher, drip irrigation kit with accessories, two tank pumps, and solar panels.
Others were mobile solar irrigation pump, maize peeler and dehusk.
Speaking at the commissioning of the equipment in Ibadan, the state AFAN Chairman, John Olateru said the equipment were subsidized for the farmers at about 75 per cent.
Olateru said that the equipment would enable the farmers improve food production in the state.
“This is the first time farmers here will have access to such farm equipment without stress.
“Initially, the application process to get such implement was too cumbersome for farmers; the equipment was given at the AFAN national level and made available to states.
“We really appreciate our Minister of Agriculture because with this demonstration alone, the sky will be our starting point.
“The AFAN is working hard to ensure the well-being of farmers, so our farmers should have the assurance that we have their interest at heart,” he said.
Olateru however, urged the Federal Government to extend the kind gesture to all the interior farmers across the state by developing all the farming structures for the benefit of the farmers.
“We are grateful for this provision and pray we receive more of this.
“The complete irrigation system which is among the equipment we received today, will help us to irrigate about a hectare of farm land to start with,” he said. (NAN)
