Plateau State University has received a significant boost to its agricultural program with the donation of a tractor from the State Government. The donation is part of the state’s ongoing effort to strengthen agricultural training and production, which aligns with the governor’s broader agricultural transformation plan.
Shedrack Best, a professor and the acting vice Chancellor of the university while receiving the tractor on Tuesday at the university campus in Bokkos local government area of the state expressed gratitude to Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the donation, highlighting its potential to enhance the university’s agricultural capabilities.
Best emphasized the importance of strengthening agricultural institutions, such as Plateau State University, to build a sustainable future for farming in the region. He noted that the university’s faculty of Agriculture is rapidly growing and becoming more ambitious and that the donation would help further its efforts in agricultural education and research.
“We are excited to receive this tractor. Our students will have the opportunity to learn how to operate it, which will help motivate them to pursue careers in agriculture,” the VC said.
He also highlighted the university’s agricultural resources, including a dam and the Agricultural Services and Training Corporation (ASTC), as well as its strategic location in the heart of the region’s farming activity.
Governor Mutfwang, represented by Samson Bugama, the State’s Commissioner of Agriculture, while presenting the tractor emphasized that the state is committing to mechanizing agriculture. He noted that only 0.05% of agriculture in Plateau State is currently mechanized, underscoring the need for change.
The governor stated that the tractor donation is part of the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape Project, which seeks to improve agricultural practices and production across Plateau State.
The governor noted that his administration aims to move away from traditional farming methods, such as hoes and cutlasses, and introduce more technological solutions to meet the state’s food demands. He also revealed plans to acquire additional tractors and power tillers, as well as establish state plantations aimed at encouraging youth participation in agriculture.
“Our goal is to engage young people in agriculture and reduce the burden of manual labour,” Governor Mutfwang said.
He also announced that the state plans to cultivate 15,000 hectares of land this year, up from 6,000 hectares in the previous year, with a focus on vulnerable communities and schools.
He explained that the donation is part of a larger initiative supported by the World Bank, with Plateau State University,y being one of five institutions to receive tractors.
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