OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR
PLATEAU STATE.
P.M.B. 2069, Little Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State
www.plateaustategov.org

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, RT. HON. SIMON BAKO LALONG, ON THE OCCASION OF LAUNCHING OF TRACTOR OWNERSHIP AND PPP SCHEME BETWEEN PLSG/HAKAR ENGINEERING LTD AND PLATEAU ALL FARMERS MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY (PAFMC) BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, DURING THE TWO DAYS WORKING VISIT TO THE STATE.

PROTOCOL

It is once again my pleasure to Welcome Mr. President to this very important occasion that relates to our agricultural policy and programme.

In the pursuit of our commitment to service delivery, the experiences from the economic misfortune occasioned by the fall of oil price in the global market necessitated our thinking out of the box under the new reality. In this regard the administration identified three New Normal or areas that the State has comparative advantages namely, Agriculture, Mineral Resources Development and Tourism. These have been pursued within the context of strategic policy framework through the relevant MDAs.

Agriculture is one of our five Policy thrusts, and in our effort to key into agricultural production of the Federal Government; the State Government evolved the policy of Tractor Ownership Scheme. It is A Public Private Partnership (PPP) Scheme between Plateau State Government (PLSG), Hakar Engineering Ltd and Plateau All Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative Society (PAFMCS).

The Farmers Cooperative Society identified the lack of modern farm tools as major impediment towards productivity and returns on farmers income and improved livelihood. Thus in the year 2016, after negotiations between Hakar Engineering Ltd and PAFMCS, the State Government was approached and accepted to facilitate the Tractor Ownership Scheme to enable interested farmers of the State to own tractors for efficient and effective farming operations across the three geo-political zones of the State. Consequently, the funding scheme to support the farmers achieve this economic goal is as follows: State government provided a 30% subsidy; The 17 LGCs 10%; Farmers Cooperative Society 10%; Hakar Engineering Ltd 25% and Bank loan 25% at single digit interest rate.

This arrangement enables farmers and/or farmers groups to own tractors for modern arable crop farming. Other objectives include; providing Tractor Hiring Services across the State, increase farm productivity, raise farmers income and welfare, and ensure timely cultivation of arable land especially during the rainy season.

The scheme, which is expected to last 36 months from flag off and commencement, will have to following benefits: The vendor Hakar Engineering Ltd has procured 400 units of tractors (Deutsch Fehr Model 70HP) as requested by the PAFMCS. The Farmers Cooperative would eventually become the owners of the Tractors. The State shall provide suitable locations that will serve as workshops one in each of the three geo-political zones of the State. Furthermore, the scheme will enlist and train 200 interested youth per LGC in basic farming skills for three years and empower them with tools and finance to embark on farming on successful completion of the training. Each LGC is expected to provide 2000 hectares of land for this project. Farmers are also to provide farmlands in their communities of between 1 to 5 hectare per farmer for the community farming project for either maize or rice. This project will be funded by the CBN Anchor Borrower Scheme to be accessed on their behalf by Hakar Engineering Ltd and utilized on 60,000 hectares of land.

Each tractor unit cost is Fourteen Million Naira (₦14,000,000.00) and administrative cost of ₦50,000.00. The scheme shall be jointly managed by the three parties especially in the Monitoring and Evaluation to ensure that milestones are achieved within time and budget.

Finally, Mr. President, once again welcome to Plateau State and it is my singular honor and privilege to invite you to officially launch the Plateau State Tractor Ownership and PPP Scheme.

Thank you and God bless.

Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong.
Executive Governor.

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Gov. Lalong’s Remark on the Occasion of the Launching of Tractors by President Buhari in Jos