Benue State Government said it has concluded arrangements to purchase 60 new tractors for sale to the farmers at a record subsidy to enable massive land clearing for agricultural activities in the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who declared this through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said nine Land Development Sites covering 1,740 hectares have been selected for clearing and preparation for use by farmers in the State.
According to him, the land clearing will commence at the end of the current rainy season.
Ortom declared that the government will not take over the cleared lands from the original owners, explaining further that the initiative is in line with his promise to boost agriculture in the state.
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Recall that in April this year, 50 tractors were sold to the farmers at 60% subsidy.
The coming set of 60 tractors is in fulfillment of Gov. Ortom’s promise that funds realized from the sale of the first set will be reinvested in buying more units of the machines.
He noted that with more tractors on the way and massive land set for clearing in parts of Benue State, agriculture will receive the much expected boost.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Ngunan Addingi has disclosed that the sum of N828 million has been approved by State Executive Council for the clearing of the 1,740 hectares of land in different sites across the state.
Briefing journalists after the EXCO meeting presided over by Gov. Samuel Ortom, Addingi said EXCO approved the procurement of 30 units of 65HP and 30 units of 75HP John Deere Tractors to the tune of over N1.6 billion for sale to farmers at subsidised rate.
