Sahara Reporters Wallows In Their Cesspit Of Sensationalism: Niger State just acquired another 250 tractors for the LGAs/A view
Honestly, media professionals must start to chastise wrong doing within the ethical boundaries before the entire gamut of the profession is torn to shreds or rubbished by a few rotten eggs. The tents of journalism rests on fair reportage which dictates hearing both sides of a story. In the instance of this Sahara reporters article (Niger State Begins Sake Of Farming Tractors To Service Debt…”) standards have been abysmally low!! Research confirms that Niger state has more combined harvesters than the whole of Nigeria combined, so what is all the jaundice story by Sahara reporters?
Lets put this in proper context.
What people are reacting to is a very narrow snapshot of a much bigger transition that is ongoing in Niger State. The state government just acquired additional 250 brand new tractors and 75 brand new combine harvesters and over 2000 implements to be distributed to the local governments a decision that relates to the desired grassroot impact. It is not, in any way, a retreat from agriculture or mechanization. It is another massive investment to the exiting fleet of tractors in niger state.
Niger state is the state with the largest number of tractors in Nigeria and currently has 2 investors developing tractor production facilities because of the demand from the state government and the farmers in niger state.
Niger State is currently hosting one of the most significant agricultural investments in the country. Through partnership with John Deere/ Agcoms International, Origin Group, CASE , ETC two assembly facilities are being established inside the Niger State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.
The first 1,000 brand-new John Deere tractors from that facility are already committed for deployment into Niger State. And 2000 to the federal government.
They are progressively advancing plans and service-driven model where tractors are locally assembled, properly maintained, and accessible to farmers when they need them. That is more efficient, more sustainable, and better for the farmer.
The message to farmers across Nigeria is very simple. Niger State is open for food production. Niger State has the land, and is putting the mechanization backbone in place, and as such are building the ecosystem to support large-scale farming.
Come with your seeds, fertilizer, chemicals, and agronomic inputs. The infrastructure and support are being aligned to ensure productivity.
The state is taking mechanization to every local government and every ward. It is a transition from the old way of doing things to a smarter, long-term model that strengthens Niger State’s role in national food security.
Another expert adds
Based on recent reports, the Niger State government is distributing and deploying, rather than selling off, a massive influx of mechanized agricultural equipment to boost local food production under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. Initiatives include distributing hundreds of tractors, power tillers, The state has taken delivery of thousands of units of machinery, including tractors, harvesters, planters, and power tillers from international and local firms to advance mechanization.
Distribution and Support: The government is distributing these tools to farmers and cooperatives across the 25 local government areas to boost the wet and dry season farming.
Capacity Building: In partnership with Niger Foods, the state is training over 300 operators for the new equipment.
Infrastructure Development: The government is establishing 11 tractor hiring centers and has cleared 2,000 hectares of land for agriculture at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport site.
Goal: The focus is on increasing yield, supporting small-scale farmers, and transforming the state into a major agricultural hub.
While there are reports of farmers needing support with fertilizer and chemical costs, the overall trend is toward increasing access to, and investing in, agricultural machinery.
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