The North East Development Commission (NEDC) in partnership with a pro-Tinubu group, LOBITO for Asiwaju, has distributed 256 farm implements and inputs to three senatorial zones of Bauchi State.
Speaking during the distribution on Saturday, an official of the Commission, Mr Sulaiman Aliyu, said the exercise was part of the agricultural policy of President Bola Tinubu. He said the distribution of the implements and machines to groups in the three senatorial zones through LOBITO group would boost agricultural production in the state.
Aliyu said the gesture was geared toward enhancing food security and wealth creation among the farmers. The tools distributed include tractors, rice millers, multi-purpose threshers, hammer mills, power tillers, and de-stoners. Others are walking tractors, rotary tiller ridges, iron bull tractors, iron disc ploughs, high pressure-configure water pumps.
The State Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Usman Yau-Darazo, said that the Commission, in partnership with the group, LOBITO for Asiwaju Farmers, aimed to empower the hardworking farmers in the state.
“The distribution of essential farm implements and machines to the dedicated members of the Lobito farmers cooperative. Spanking all 20 local government areas with 10 beneficiaries from each,” he said.
According to him, the initiative highlights the commitment to decentralized Agricultural support and fostering independence among local cooperatives.
“The initiative is all about ensuring that every farmer can maximize productivity and efficiency on their farms. The groups are based in Bauchi North, Bauchi Central and Bauchi South,” Yau-Darazo said.
He said that the tools would help increase the average yield of crop production of farmers in the state.
“I urge you as you receive these farming tools to use them effectively to boost your productivity and enhance your income, » he said.
A beneficiary Malam Musa Birshi said that the machine would reduce drudgery associated with harvesting and processing of farm produce
He lauded the Lobito Group and NEDC for procurement of the machines and onward distribution to farmers.
“Those machines will go a long way in reducing our stress and cost of production. Initially, we used hands to thresh and many got wasted but with this machine, it will save a lot of wastage,” he said.
