A House of Representatives member representing Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Zakari Mohammed has presented a tractor to farmers in Baruten Local Government Area(LGA) ahead of farming season.
He said the tractor would boost rice production and also discourage the importation of foreign rice.
He said the tractor will be available to farmers at subsidized rate.
Mohammed made the disclosures during the presentation of the tractor to the Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Isa Seidu who was represented by the Internal Auditor of the LGA, Alhaji Shittu AbdulAzeez.
He said: “Today, I am presenting it for the use of the farmers in Baruten local government and it will be under the care of the local government as one of the dividends of democracy and as my noble contribution to agricultural production because our people in Kaiama and Baruten are agrarian.
“We have enough land to cultivate rice but if government becomes the buyer of last resort through off -taker arrangements, it would improve agriculture not only in my area but also the Nupe speaking areas of Kwara generally.
“Specifically regarding Baruten and Kaiama, the tractor will be available at subsidized rate which would be under the care of the local government and they will charge less than half in order to raise fund for its maintenance.
“Being under the care of the council, it will also guard against it being abused when kept in the hands of individuals. Subsistence farming cannot take us anywhere and there is no nation that has developed through that. Nations that have grown very well have developed through mechanized farming.”
Speaking on importation of rice, Mohammed said: “For rice importation, stopping the process has to be gradual and not sudden because doing that will make the price soar again and we definitely must be mindful of that important fact and apply a common sense.
