The Enugu State Government has taken delivery of 100 tractors out of the 1,000 ordered by Governor Peter Mbah to drive agricultural transformation across the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Mr. Patrick Ubru, disclosed this on Monday during an inspection in Enugu. He said another 100 tractors would arrive in the coming weeks, while the remaining 800 would be assembled locally at the new Nortra Tractor Assembly Plant and Service Centre set up by Danish firm, ODK Group.
Ubru described the delivery as part of Governor Mbah’s commitment to mechanising agriculture, increasing food production, creating jobs, and growing the state’s GDP to $30 billion by 2031.
“What you’re seeing is a fulfilment of the governor’s promise to make Enugu a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria. We aim to raise productivity by 200 times through full mechanisation,” Ubru stated.
The 100 tractors, imported from Denmark, have already been tested at the Akpawfu farm estate in Nkanu East LGA. Each tractor has a 75-horsepower engine, with an option to upgrade to 90 horsepower if needed.
Ubru added that the Assembly Plant will have two production lines capable of assembling 10 tractors daily and will feature a training centre for operators and a maintenance hub. The plant alone is expected to create 3,600 jobs.
He assured that the tractors would be accessible to both smallholder and commercial farmers to enhance productivity and make agriculture more attractive.
“We’re establishing 260 farm estates across the state, each supporting 200 farmers. These estates will offer mechanised services, improved seedlings, and extension support. Overall, this initiative will provide about 52,000 direct jobs,” he added.
With the next farming season starting in two weeks, the ministry is finalising arrangements to ensure timely access to the tractors.
Also speaking, Chief Romanus Anayo Eze, Chairman of the All-Farmers Association in Enugu, praised Governor Mbah for delivering on his promises.
“When the governor announced plans to procure 1,000 tractors, many doubted him. But today, we are witnessing history. This is the first time Enugu is receiving 100 brand-new tractors,” he said.
He added that farmers are excited about the development, noting that the availability of reliable tractors will enhance food production and create employment opportunities, especially for the youth.
