The mini tractor made by the Nigerian National Centre for Agricultural Research (NCAM) is a 40-horsepower machine developed in response to the problem farmers were having with the big imported ones. With the capacity to finish two hectares of farmland in a day, it has become a game changer for many farmers in the country. Made in Nigeria, the technology is said to be the first in Africa and has provided farmers with the opportunity to improve yield through effective utilization. Most of the imported tractors were brought into the country without their spare parts, a situation that explains the huge number of imported tractors that have now turned to scraps across the country and posing a serious challenge to farmers.
Cost
The mini tractor comes with all arrays of implements like plough, harrow, and trailer and may be worth N7.5 million, unlike the imported ones. The executive director of the NCAM, Yomi Muyideen Kasali, an engineer, explained thus: “This is, however, not equivalent to an imported one, which is about N12 million and without these accessories. These three things I have mentioned cost around N6m, aside from other ones that are still needed to be added to it. At the end of the day, the minimum amount spent on the imported tractor is about N18m,” he said.
Ways farmers can own the tractor
Because of the economic situation, farmers don’t find it easy to say they want to own a tractor. The majority of them are resource-poor and the attitude of the state government to support the institute on the provision of the mini tractor and other machinery manufactured by the NCAM to get to the farmers is not encouraging. Therefore, the executive director advised the farmers to go into cooperative associations and make the ownership a money-making venture.
Production/Acquisition
Benefits/impact
Accessibly
Access to the product is not difficult, but the only issue is that they are produced on request, based on specification.
Maintenance
The mini tractor is relatively easy to maintain and a marked departure from the imported one, which has the problem of spare parts. According to the NCAM boss, “The cost of maintenance is not on the high side because most of the parts are indigenous. And once we sell out, we back-store and look at any problem that may arise afterward and solve it. So, they are easy to maintain. Most of the parts of the imported ones are not available.”
Durability
He said the durability “depends majorly on maintenance to make it last. It can stay 5 to 10 years in good condition provided there are maintained.” On the cost of maintenance, he said, “Now, engine oil costs between N7,500 and N13,000. And two gallons, minimum, are needed to service the mini tractor. There might be the need also to change some parts, which also increase the cost.”
Why imported an engine?
“We don’t have the required metal industry to do that, and that is where the Ajaokuta Steel Company comes in. That would have been the only place for us to be able to smelt and mold engines. Even grinding machine engines now are imported, and we hope to see the Ajaokuta come on stream to revive our moribund steel industry,” he said…
