By Michael Ofulue ,Osogbo

Amidst the commencement of the rainy season, Osun State Government, has approved modalities for the operations of tractors across farmlands in the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Tola Faseru who confirmed the development said interested farmers are to reach out to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry or the General Manager of Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation (OSSADEC) through virtual or physical applications.

He noted that the government is subsidising the operational rate per acre to lower the cost of farm operations, explaining further that the tractors will be domiciled at the OSSADEC farm centre located across the state.

Faseru who said some of the tractors are already in operation in some farmlands noted that the ministry is working to set up technical centres at designated locations for maintenance of the tractors.

He narrated further that tractor drivers are being assembled, trained and retrained for seamless operation even as he explained that the administration adopted a public private partnership approach for the management of the tractors.

“We are happy to inform the public that the tractors are out for the rainy season. We are conscious of the question of sustainability, hence the careful approach to inject private sector practices.

“In 14 or so years, this is the first time Osun is having new fleet of tractors. We have learnt from what caused the failure of the past efforts. We won’t repeat the same mistakes.