News in Brief:
– The Nigerian government is discussing a partnership with China’s YTO Group to acquire 85,000 units of farming equipment to boost agricultural mechanisation and food security.
– This potential deal builds on a previous collaboration and aligns with Niger State’s ambition to become a national agricultural hub.
The Nigerian federal government is exploring a partnership with Chinese agricultural machinery vendors to enhance its agricultural transformation agenda and achieve food security.
Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, led by Director, Mechanisation Department, Sule Majeed, held a closed-door meeting with officials of Tee-Pama Nigeria Limited, the local partner of China’s YTO Group Corporation, in Abuja.
Following the discussions, the ministry’s Head of Procurement and Administration, Akintunde Akinkumi, highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering partnerships for agricultural mechanisation.
He indicated a potential agreement involving the supply of 85,000 units of farming and construction machinery through Tee-Pama Nigeria Limited, a press statement said.
Additionally, Akinkumi outlined a two-year supply plan with accompanying spare parts and warranties of one to two years. The equipment would be distributed across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Also, Akinkumi referred to a previous tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2016 between the federal government, several states (including Kaduna, Zamfara, Kano, and Ebonyi), and YTO CAMACO, which aimed to supply 80,000 YTO tractors. While the MoU wasn’t fully implemented due to an economic recession, the initial tractors provided have reportedly performed well.
Also present at the meeting was Niger State’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Salihu Bosso. He highlighted the state’s plan to cultivate 250,000 hectares of land within the first year of the current administration.
Furthermore, he emphasised the state’s goal of becoming Nigeria’s agricultural food hub in the coming years.
