Ekiti State Advances Agricultural Mechanization with New Partnerships and Tractors.

Ekiti State Advances Agricultural Mechanization with New Partnerships and Tractors.

...investor set to bring over 20 additional tractors to Ekiti by the end of next month.

Ekiti State is taking a significant step forward in agricultural development with a new partnership involving Hello Tractor and John Deere. This collaboration, endorsed by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, aims to boost farming efficiency and support smallholder farmers across the state through enhanced farmland mapping and Tractorization subsidy schemes.

Earlier this year, Ekiti State partnered with Hello Tractor to launch a groundbreaking initiative, leveraging advanced technology to map over 2,000 hectares of farmland. The initial phase saw about 80% of the targeted land successfully Tractorized, a development that has considerably improved farming operations for local producers. However, the project also faced challenges, particularly for Mechanization Service Providers (MSPs), whose operations were impacted by equipment downtime due to challenging terrains, delaying timely service to farmers and affecting crop yields.

To address these challenges, the Commissioner of Agriculture and his team decided to acquire additional tractors to support emergency intervention projects and facilitate timely assistance for farmers without disrupting the current market. Today, Ekiti State received a first batch of new tractors and agricultural equipment from John Deere. These resources, managed by the private sector, will ensure higher standards of efficiency, durability, and accountability, promoting a sustainable mechanization framework that empowers both service providers and farmers.

Reaffirming the state’s commitment to an inclusive model, the Commissioner thanked Governor Oyebanji for his steadfast support of agricultural growth. The Ekiti government will continue to subsidize land preparation to make it affordable for smallholder farmers, while encouraging private service providers to actively participate in the mechanization sector.

In a promising move, an investor is set to bring over 20 additional tractors to Ekiti by the end of next month, boosting the state’s capacity for comprehensive land clearing and expanding Tractorization access for farming clusters free of charge. Ekiti State stands ready to welcome more Mechanization Service Providers to support its vision of agricultural resilience and prosperity. With these initiatives, the state positions itself as a leader in modernized agriculture, paving the way for enhanced productivity and economic empowerment for its citizens.