By Fatima Muraina

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Ondo State Government has disclosed that it is awaiting the arrival of 10 new tractors from an investor to facilitate land clearing for the 2025 agricultural season.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Mr Wemimo Akinsola, disclosed this in an interview with The Hope at the weekend.

He said the tractors are intended to make land clearing easier for farmers and will be operated by the private sector on behalf of the state government.

“We are not selling tractors to farmers anymore. All tractors we acquire will be run by the private sector for the farmers, either on behalf of the state or an investor. The tractors will remain in designated locations, where they will be maintained by an investor or the private sector.”

He added that farmers should organise themselves into clusters in farming areas where the tractors will be useful, stressing that the tractors will be kept at a central depot, where they will be maintained, serviced, and made available when needed.

Speaking on the two billion naira earlier earmarked by the state government, Akinsola stated that the funds were never accessed, despite tractorisation being included in the payment plan for the N2 billion.

“So when that project or the entire fund was put on hold, all associated projects were also suspended because there were no available funds to implement them.”

According to Akinsola, land inspections for tractorisation will begin this week, and once they are completed, operations will commence.

“We are not offering subsidies; farmers will be required to pay for the service. The tractors will be readily available because farmers’ payments will ensure the necessary funding.”

Speaking on other benefits and incentives for farmers, Wemimo disclosed that the state government is in discussions with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) regarding the procurement of high-quality, improved seedlings and inputs for farmers.

“We are organising training on yam cultivation. within the next one to two weeks, we expect to have everything in place and distribute the seeds.

“We have also arranged financing for most farmers who require support for land clearing and cultivation. Additionally, inputs will be made available once discussions with suppliers are finalised. Farmers will be able to access these inputs at a discounted rate,” he further stated.

On insecurity, the SSA said the state is tackling the issue from the northern pillars, which he said were the most threatened.

“So what we are doing right now, to ensure peace and security, is focusing on securing this particular axis first rather than going deep inside without protection. This initiative involves bringing in investors to clear a large portion of land and open it up. That way, if insurgents are approaching, we will be able to see them from a distance.”

According to him, four investors will be approached to clear about 10,000 hectares each in the four designated high-risk areas.

This he said will help free those areas from insurgency while ranches will be established to accommodate incoming herders.