The Cross River State Government is strengthening its push for food security, with the rollout of subsidized tractors and hands-on training for small-holder farmers across the state.
Through the cooperative-based mechanization scheme, the government says farmers will now have easier access to affordable tractor services, to boost productivity and reduce the stress of manual labour.
At a training session in Calabar, beneficiaries drawn from the 18 local government areas were introduced to the use and management of the tractors to be deployed in two phases, alongside other farm implements.
The state government says the scheme is deliberately structured to ensure accountability and community participation, while keeping the tractors simple, easy to manage, and cost-effective for small-scale farmers.
For many women farmers, the initiative is more than just a policy, it is an empowerment.
At the theoretical training, Joseph Lifu, a rice farmer, shared his optimism that the tractors would make a real difference in their day-to-day work, especially in preparing farmlands faster and increasing yields.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, who represented the state Governor Bassey Otu, underscored the importance of the programme, describing the tractors as service assets that will remain under the subsidized structure until fully owned.
With the programme, the government hopes to drive greater participation in agriculture, reduce drudgery, and fast-track food production for the people of Cross River State.
Inemesit Ifiok, AIT
