The federal government has secured a €995 million deal with the Brazilian Government, and the German Deutsch Bank Group to finance a Green Imperative Programme in Nigeria.
As part of its implementation plan, the programme will create mechanisation hubs in each of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who disclosed this in Minna,at the launch of the Food Security and Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, said a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the Federal Government and the John Deer Group, a subsidiary of Tata Equipment, under which the manufacturer will deliver 10,000 units of tractors and implement in tranches of 2,000 units per annum for the next five years.
He pointed out that the federal government was deploying the Greener Hope Initiative as a veritable platform to ultimately change the deficit narrative in the Nigerian agricultural mechanisation space.
Also speaking, President Bola Tinubu said his administration remains committed to ensuring food sufficiency and protecting local industries for sustainable economic growth.
He explained that the initiative is for the deployment of cutting-edge agricultural machinery and technology for large-scale agro-value chain development in the state.
“We have seen the level of commitment here. We have seen leadership. The success of any leader will depend on the ability to do what needs to be done when it ought to be done.
“It is now time for us to address the challenges and make Nigeria an economy of opportunities. We must care for our people; re-orient our people. I do not see why Nigeria cannot feed all students in its schools,” he said.
