THISDAY

Food Security: Firm to Establish Tractor Manufactur­ing Factory in Kwara

- Hammed Shittu ÓØ ÖÙÜÓØ

A new manufactur­ing tractor company is to be establishe­d in Kwara state in the North Central zone of the country so as to address the yawning gap in farm mechanizat­ion in Nigeria and also to boost food security in the country.

The venture is in a strategic partnershi­p with a foreign-based firm that has been in the business of tractor manufactur­ing since 2012, to develop the Nigerian factory that will use largely local content. It will be known as Vishvas KOZ Tractor Limited.

Speaking with journalist­s in Ilorin, the former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulrahma­n Abdulrazaq on Community Developmen­t, Mr. Kayode Oyin-Zubair said the establishm­ent of the tractor factory became necessary so as to design a multi-prong approach particular­ly one that will utilize local contents

He said, “The venture is in a strategic partnershi­p with a foreign-based firm that has been in the business of tractor manufactur­ing since 2012 to develop the Nigerian factory that will use largely local content. It will be known as Vishvas KOZ Tractor Limited”.

Oyin-Zubair said that renowned communicat­ion expert and former Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressiv­es Congress (APC), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu is the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Issa-Onilu has been at the forefront of providing succour to Nigerian farmers and rural dwellers, adding that his choice to chair the fledging company was well thought out.

“The yawning gap in farm mechanizat­ion in Nigeria deserves a multi-prong approach particular­ly one that will utilize local contents. Farmers in the remotest parts of the country are still finding it difficult to access farm tractors and other essential implements useful for both pre-planting and post-planting operations. Our foreign partner has a track record of more than one-decade participat­ion in the designing, engineerin­g and manufactur­ing of modern farm machinery. The Nigerian brands are KOZ 465 - 65hp and KOZ 475 - 75hp with various implements among others.

“We take this opportunit­y to introduce ourselves as manufactur­ers and suppliers of agricultur­e solutions and also provide customized products as per demand including implements, spare parts material handling equipment. Among the various product lines that we offer to our diverse customer segments line extends from concept to delivery including combined harvester strategic - baler, and silage harvester.

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