Akwa Ibom Moves To Mechanise Farming As Gov Eno Prepares To Launch Agric Equipment Leasing Company
As Nigeria grapples with rising food prices and the urgent need to boost local food production, Akwa Ibom State is stepping up efforts to modernise agriculture through mechanisation.
Governor Umo Eno has announced that the state’s Agric Equipment Leasing Company in Ekpri Nsukara, Uyo, will soon be commissioned to support large-scale farming and improve productivity across the state.
Speaking with Government House correspondents after inspecting the facility, the governor expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and commended the contractor for the pace of development.
“There is a lot of improvement on the work done here to get the company kick-started in earnest.
The contractor has assured us the project will soon be inaugurated, and I hold her to that,” he said.
According to Eno, the initiative is designed to encourage farmers to expand their operations by giving them access to modern farming equipment at subsidised rates.
He revealed that the facility already has over 25 tractors fitted with tracking devices, alongside two low-bed transport trucks, ready to support the agricultural programme.
“We intend to lease this equipment to farmers across the state so they can improve productivity.
The equipment ranges from ploughs to harvesters and other modern tools that will help farmers achieve better yields,” the governor explained.
Beyond mechanisation, Eno also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to a tree-crop revolution programme, noting that preparations are underway for the distribution of palm seedlings across the state.
He disclosed that nurseries have already been established and farmers enumerated, adding that the seedlings would be distributed within two weeks once the rainy season begins.
The governor urged farmers to take advantage of the government’s agricultural initiatives to drive food sufficiency, economic growth, and improved livelihoods across Akwa Ibom.
Officials who accompanied him during the inspection included the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric Business, Pastor Godwin Ukwat.
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