Agric Ministry hands over 12 tractors to farmers under mechanisation programme

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security on Friday distributed 12 tractors to beneficiary farmers at the Agricultural Soil Campus in Yundum as part of the government’s ongoing agricultural mechanisation programme aimed at boosting food production and modernising farming operations.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Demba Sabally, said the initiative is intended to improve agricultural productivity by increasing farmers’ access to modern farming machinery. He noted that the latest batch follows the earlier distribution of 25 tractors to farmers across the country.
Dr Sabally explained that the programme operates under a cost-sharing arrangement, with the government and beneficiary farmers each contributing 25 per cent of the initial payment, while the remaining 50 per cent is to be paid through monthly instalments over a four-year period.
He urged the beneficiaries to take proper care of the tractors, honour their repayment commitments, and seek support from the Agricultural Engineering Unit whenever technical assistance or maintenance services are required.
The minister also expressed appreciation to President Adama Barrow for supporting the initiative and commended Yonna for supplying the tractors.
Addressing the gathering, NACOFAG President Musa F. Sowe said the equipment would help farmers increase production, reduce operational costs and expand the acreage under cultivation.
He stressed that the tractors were not being distributed free of charge but through a cost-sharing mechanism designed to encourage ownership and accountability among beneficiaries.
Sowe further highlighted the critical role agriculture plays in the national economy, noting that challenges facing the sector often have wider economic implications.
The Regional Agricultural Director for the West Coast Region, Bakary Gassama, said the ministry had adjusted its strategy following difficulties encountered under a previous tractor distribution programme launched in 2020.
According to him, some beneficiaries under the earlier scheme failed to meet their repayment obligations, prompting the introduction of the current model, which requires farmers to make direct financial contributions towards the machinery.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alagie Ousmane Jobe thanked the government for the support, noting that many farmers would have found it difficult to purchase tractors independently.
He said the machinery would significantly enhance agricultural production, support efforts to increase exports, and improve farmers’ livelihoods. He also called on fellow beneficiaries to use the equipment responsibly and fulfil their repayment obligations.
The tractor distribution forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernise agriculture, increase productivity and strengthen national food security.