By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
U-Farm Africa Tractors for Grains Initiative Hiring Scheme has stormed Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State in Zaria with simple mechanized inputs for smallholder farmers.
The farmers appreciated the efforts of U-Farm Africa Tractor For Grains Initiative for coming to their doorstep with modern mechanized inputs to boost their farming activities.
According to the farmers, as far as modern mechanized farming is concerned now that the world is changing through globalization, the U-Farm Africa Tractor For Grains Initiative has come to them at the right time.
One of the banes of smallholder farmers agricultural productivity has not been due to poor generation of innovation, but with effective dissemination of proven agricultural technologies to the largely stakeholder farmers which U-Farm Africa did to them.
Accordingly, Nigeria has all it takes to refocus its agriculture to overcome the current challenges of changing global climate to enhance its food security.
While calling on governments at all levels to partner with the U-Farm Africa Tractor for Grains Initiative so that small-scale farmers will benefit, the U-Farm said that it has a formidable network that will benefit the small holder farmers in Nigeria.
In his message at the launching of the programme, the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli said that the U-Farm Africa Tractors for Grains Initiative Hiring Scheme is a motivator to the smaller farmers to improve their productivity.
Emir Bamalli who was represented by the Bijimin Arewa Zazzau Alhaji Sa’idu Aliyu, said the development will assist the peasant farmers to improve their productivity at the end of the farming season.
He advised the beneficiaries of the scheme to be sincere and pay what they are expected to when due.
He commended the efforts put in place for the laudable initiative by U-Farm Africa, towards improving and encouraging smaller farmers to do more than what they they produce.
The emir assured them of the traditional institutions in Zazzau Emirate’s support towards achieving their goals on agricultural development among the smaller farmers in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Lead Manager U-Farm Africa Tractor For Grains Initiative Scheme, Mr.Olalekan Ilori said their main target is smaller farmers, because they are very important to the company.
He said the tractors are for hiring services, not for sale because it’s for grains initiative support to the smaller farmers.
According to him, if smaller farmers embrace this technology, the issues of production losses will be history and the benefit will be more than what they are getting traditionally.
On the mode of payment he said a farmer will be required to deposit 20% of the money charged, while the balance is to be settled with grains after the harvest.
He said, “in the case of a farmer who wants to hire but doesn’t have the money, that farmer will enjoy the services.”
Some of the farmers from Sabon Gari and Giwa local government areas expressed happiness that a new agric mechanization is at their doorsteps.
They commended the U-Farm Africa for making them part of the beneficiaries of the U-Farm Africa Tractor For Grains initiative.
