The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Edo chapter, has lauded the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for donating farm equipment worth N14 million to the association.
The branch chairman of AFAN, Chief Emmanuel Odigie, made this commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Sunday.
Odigie said that the farm machineries including two tractors, a harrower, a planter and a harvester, were donated to the association a month ago.
He said that the use of the equipment would promote large scale farming and make it attractive to youths in the state.
‘’I want to commend the NDDC for this kind gesture because before now, farmers in the state found it difficult to access tractors.
‘’We have introduced cluster farming, where 10 or more farmers can come together to carry out farming operations in one location.
‘’So the tractors will help immensely in farm clearing, harrowing and planting.
‘’It will also motivate the youth to go into farming and transform the subsistence farmers into commercial farmers,” he said.
He said that the tractors would be hired out on first come, first serve basis and urged farmers in the state to take advantage of this.
‘’The farmers will pay a token to cover the operation and maintenance cost,’’ he added. (NAN)