The Biodun Oyebanji-led government of Ekiti State has allocated Mechanization Service Providers (MSPs) to various towns, communities, and local government areas under the State’s Tractorization Subsidy Support Scheme.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, who made this known in Ado Ekiti, said the scheme was designed to ease the financial burdens on farmers and boosting productivity by subsidizing mechanization services for land preparation and cultivation.
Reiterating the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration to improving agricultural productivity and ensuring farmers have access to modern farming techniques, Boluwade assured all interested farmers of unfettered access to the facility.
The Commissioner noted that while rainfall patterns remain inconsistent in some parts of the state, certain areas have received enough rain to commence mechanized farming activities, adding that interested farmers should therefore contact the MSP assigned to their respective areas for pre-tractorization visit and land assessment or the engineer assigned to their senatorial district to facilitate the process.
According to him, each benefiting farmer is expected to pay a 50% contribution based on the estimated land size and the operations required to a designated account after proper assessment, assuring that the relevant MSP would be mobilized to commence work within 48 hours of confirmation of required payment.
He assured of transparent, accountable and quality service delivery, stressing that both farmers and the supervising engineers would be required to submit reports on respective sites, which would be remotely validated to ensure compliance with set standards.
Urging farmers to take advantage of the initiative, Boluwade assured that no stone would be left unturned towards achieving food security and improving the lot of farmers, adding that the list of MSPs would be continuously updated as more service providers and farmers express interest in the program.
“This initiative is part of our broader commitment to making agriculture more productive and less labor-intensive for our people. We encourage farmers to key into the scheme and maximize the benefits,” he said.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
