Yobe State Government Slashes Tractor Hiring Fees by 50% to Boost Food Security

DAMATURU — In a major move to empower small-scale farmers and enhance agricultural output, the Yobe State Government has officially reduced the cost of hiring tractors by 50 percent. Governor Mai Mala Buni approved the subsidy, lowering the service fee from N100,000 to N50,000 per unit.

Strategic Agricultural Intervention

The announcement was made on Monday by the Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Mohammed Goje, who emphasized that the initiative is designed to reach farmers across all 178 communities in the state.

According to Dr. Goje, the policy serves as a strategic intervention to achieve three core objectives:

Increased Mechanization: By making tractor services affordable, the state aims to help more farmers transition from manual labor to mechanized farming.

Expanded Cultivation: The reduction will enable farmers to clear and cultivate larger portions of arable land, which is expected to lead to higher production volumes this season.

Economic Relief: The subsidy directly lowers the cost of cultivation, thereby increasing the profit margins for rural farming households and boosting their overall economic well-being.

Commitment to Food Security

The Yobe State government maintains that agriculture remains the centerpiece of its development agenda. The Buni administration has consistently invested in agricultural infrastructure to drive economic growth and ensure food self-sufficiency.

This specific intervention is part of a broader package of support for farmers in the state, which includes:

      •  Provision of improved seed varieties.

      •  Subsidized fertilizer distribution.

       •  Expansion of irrigation support programs.

       •  Sustained investment in agricultural machinery and equipment.

Impact on Rural Development

The government believes that by reducing the financial barriers to entry for mechanized farming, the state can stimulate job creation for youths and build a more resilient agricultural sector. The move is being hailed as a vital step toward ensuring food security and sustainable growth for Yobe’s farming communities as the current planting season gains momentum.