To enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food security, the Ekiti State Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has partnered with Hello Tractor.
This collaboration aims to improve access to mechanized farming across the state in preparation for the upcoming 2024 planting season.
Dr. Nneka Enwonwu, the Country Managing Director of Hello Tractor in Nigeria, disclosed the partnership in a statement on Monday. Hello Tractor is a prominent technology-enabled digital marketplace for tractor contracting in Africa.
Recently returning from Ado Ekiti where the agreement was finalized, Enwonwu emphasized the significance of such partnerships. He highlighted that numerous states in Nigeria are currently developing programs related to food security, youth empowerment, and job creation.
“At Hello Tractor, we are excited about this partnership,” Enwonwu stated. “It will empower smallholder farmers and lead to increased efficiency in farming through mechanization. The entire process, from local government extension agents and booking agents to technicians, aligns with the Ekiti State Agricultural Development Plan.”
He further explained that this program perfectly aligns with Hello Tractor’s commitment to partnering with states pursuing innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions for their citizens.
Enwonwu pointed out that the global standard for mechanized farming is 200 tractors per 100 square kilometers of arable land. He noted that countries in sub-Saharan Africa have a meager 27 tractors for the same area, with Nigeria’s average falling far below that number.
“For the past ten years, Hello Tractor has been working diligently to connect more smallholder farmers with mechanized services to help them increase their productivity,” Enwonwu said. “The company has digitized and serviced over 1.1 million farmers and currently manages over 3.3 million acres.”
