C’River offers subsidised tractors to boost mechanised farming
As part of its People-First Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the Cross River State Government has launched the distribution of subsidised mini tractors to farmers’ cooperatives across the state, in a major push to advance mechanised agriculture and reduce rural poverty.
Governor Bassey Otu, while flagging off the initiative at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development headquarters in Calabar, said the programme directly tackles the high cost of land preparation, which accounts for over 70% of cultivation expenses for smallholder farmers.
The tractors—fuel-efficient, terrain-adaptable, and multifunctional—are designed to make land preparation easier, cut labour costs, and enhance productivity.
In the first phase, 108 units are being deployed, with 324 mini tractors expected in total. They will be operated under a cooperative model, enabling beneficiary groups to function as community-based service providers.
Governor Otu said this shared ownership approach ensures accountability, equitable access, and local value retention.
“We are unlocking the full potential of our agricultural landscape so that our farmers can farm more, earn more, and feed more,” he stated.
The initiative complements other state-led agricultural programmes such as:
The Cassava Seed Multiplication Project,
The Project Grow Maize and Soybean Scheme (in partnership with Flour Mills Plc), and
The Sorghum Production Pilot with Champion Breweries.
The governor also highlighted plans for new cocoa and coffee estates through public-private partnerships and the ongoing distribution of improved seeds, fertilisers, and implements to smallholder farmers.
Mr. Femi Odeleye, CEO of Bespoke Concepts Ltd (tractor suppliers), described the move as the planting of seeds for “a new agricultural revolution,” revealing that a tractor assembly plant in Calabar could create over 2,000 jobs.
Rev. Ojikpong Bisong, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (Cross River chapter), praised Governor Otu’s agricultural policies, likening his leadership to that of Dr. Michael Okpara, the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria.
Source: Punch NG
Expert Agri-Food Review for Stakeholders
- Strategic Focus on Mechanisation and Land Preparation
Cross River’s decision to target land preparation—responsible for over 70% of cultivation costs—demonstrates a data-driven understanding of agricultural bottlenecks. By tackling this foundation, the state is directly addressing farmers’ most critical constraint to productivity. - Cooperative-Based Mechanisation Model
The choice to manage tractors through farmers’ cooperatives ensures that mechanisation access is community-driven and self-sustaining. This structure promotes collective ownership, accountability, and wider reach among smallholders, preventing elite capture. - Integration of Private Sector Partnerships
Collaborations with private entities like Flour Mills Plc and Champion Breweries align state policy with industrial demand. This linkage between farmers and processors strengthens market systems and guarantees consistent offtake for key crops. - Value Chain Diversification and Crop Focus
Cross River’s simultaneous investment in cassava, maize, soybean, sorghum, cocoa, and coffee demonstrates a multi-commodity diversification strategy. Such an approach reduces dependence on single-crop economies while stimulating processing and export potential. - Job Creation and Industrial Backward Linkages
The planned establishment of a tractor assembly plant in Calabar, expected to generate over 2,000 jobs, indicates a deeper industrialisation intent. This could create backward linkages in local manufacturing, spare parts, and technical maintenance sectors.
Conclusion
Cross River’s mechanisation push is a policy turning point capable of transforming the state into an agriculture-led economy, provided transparency, training, and maintenance systems are prioritised.
Mechanisation is not just about machines — it is about mindset, management, and market access.
