Akeredolu sold government tractors at subsidized prices — Ondo commissioner

The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Olayato Aribo, has said that no fewer than 4,563 youths have been trained in modern agriculture through various youth development programmes in the state.

The commissioner further revealed that the government, under the immediate administration of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, sold all state-owned tractors to private companies and individuals at subsidized prices.

Aribo stated this while speaking on the activities of his ministry at the Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday.

He said, “Some of our youth have been empowered because we have found that there is a gap between our old farmers and the young ones; the young people are not interested in farming. So we want to encourage them.

“We are training them and also strengthening them. Currently, we are encouraging young farmers to bring their products to the ministry to sell directly to consumers. We organize this event on Thursdays. Since we are here now, it is ongoing.”

Aribo said the government has appointed a company to hire tractors to clear land for farmers in the state.
According to him, the state government is engaged in massive food production to meet the challenges of food shortage.

Aribo said: “Today we have a working tractor working in the ministry. Unlike the North, where we have savannah, here tractors cannot enter the forest.

“We need bulldozers to clear the forest. We want to do a thorough job. We need bulldozers to remove all the trees and stumps, that’s why we need an equipment rental company.

“We discussed and agreed with them. Every farmer knows the cost of tractorization per hectare. We promise a 25 percent discount. We identified the lands that we can use and discussed with institutions that have large land masses.”

When asked why he contacted a tractor company when some tractors were parked at Government House, Akure, the commissioner, explained: “I am not aware of any tractor parked at Government House.”

He further explained: “During the administration of the late Governor Akeredolu, we purchased 30 tractors. These tractors were sold to companies and individuals at subsidized rates. Most of those tractors are now outside the state. They are no longer owned by the government. Some people bought them and some are paying gradually. The state now owns only one tractor.”

“However, we will continue to buy tractors, but it is better to start immediately engaging this (hiring) company to provide us with tractors. We are in a hurry to produce food,” Aribo explained.