NAN-AE -3
Tractors
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Nov. 20, 2017 (NAN) The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano state chapter says it has procured 200 tractors from India with a loan facility it secures from the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), to boost food production in the state.
The state AFAN Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kano.
He said 100 of the tractors had arrived Nigeria and would soon be transported to Kano while the remaining 100 were being expected in the country.
“The FCMB gave us the loan facility which the Kano State Government serves as our guarantor,”he said.
Rabiu, however, declined to state the amount of the loan.
According to him, said as soon as the association takes delivery of the remaining tractors, it will distribute them to interested farmers.
He stressed that the beneficiaries must deposit 20 per cent of the total cost of the tractor before collection.
“Each tractor costs N8.6 million while the cost of implement is N850, 000. So each farmer wishing to buy the tractor must deposit 20 per cent of the total cost of the tractor and its implement.”
According to him, interested farmers are expected to pay the balance of the cost of the tractor within four years.
The said the association decided to procure the tractors and distribute to farmers to boost food production in the state and the country at large.
He the initiative would also lower the high cost of production being experienced by farmers, especially those living in urban areas.
Rabiu said the association had taken necessary steps to ensure that all those who purchased the tractors either use them on their farms or give them out on hiring service.
“The association has taken necessary measures to prevent the beneficiaries of the tractors from disposing them out to members of the public.’’
He called on interested farmers to go to the AFAN state headquarters to purchase the application forms which he said would be on sale before the end of this week.
On dry season farming, the state chairman said the association had commenced preparations toward launching the Wheat planting season before the end of November.
“The dry season has set in and there is need for us to inaugurate the Wheat Planning season so that farmers can commence planting. (NAN)
MTM/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed