Imo Govt To Set Up Tractors Plant, To Train Youths In Operations, Maintenance

OGBONNA IWUAGWU

Apparently for the declaration of Imo State as the “Least Corrupt State” in the nation courtesy of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBC) and the United Nations Office of Drugs And Crimes (UNODC), Howell -Tech Limited, marketers and distributors of Farmwell Tractors, has collaborated with the Government of Imo State to further the agricultural revolution of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, through the Office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture.

Representing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Emma Nwogu, who was away on an official assignment, Mr. Uche Odozor, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Agricultural Development, pointed out “Government of Imo State is rebuilding the completely knocked down agricultural sector and that is why we intend to partner with Howell-Tech Limited, the marketers and distributors of Farmwell Tractors. It will be a huge benefit to Imo State in terms of meaningful engagement, empowerment and employment of the young ones in capacity building.

“If finally taken off, we will have tractors equipment maintenance and repair assembled in Imo State. We welcome them for believing in the Agro revolution of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. As an indigene and having seen the landmark achievements of the Governor over his vision and passion in agriculture, they have no other option than to come and invest in Imo State. Tractors will be arriving Imo State soon and the most profitable is that the company will be using the Onne Port in Rivers State. The proximity of the port is an advantage already” Odozor stressed.

Furthermore, the Njaba born Aviator, thanked them on behalf of the Governor of Imo State, stating, “The Governor will be briefed on his return to the State and a holistic approach will taken, just as the training  of the youths will be in conjunction with the Agri-Business Academy, recently opened by the State Government in Owerri.

In his remarks earlier, the Chairman of Howell-Tech Limited, who hails from Egbu autonomous community in Owerri-North LGA; Imo State, Mr. Ibe Ejiogu, informed he has been in the tractors business majoring in marketing and maintaining tractors all over the country from Funtua Katsina and Taraba State since 1998.

“Having seen the interest of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, in the area of agriculture, we decided to bring back home, what we have been doing for others outside. Governor Emeka Ihedioha has the burning zeal to revamp the sector to the extent of giving it a code name; “Agricultural Revolution”, that alone must have attracted many investors to the state, not even now the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) declared Imo State as the “Least Corrupt State” in the nation.

Ibe further revealed, “Imo State is investors haven, so every investor will want to utilize the opportunity to do business unlike what it used to be in the past. In our interactions with the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agricultural Development, we discovered they are on ground and have vast experience in agricultural development. We are committed to the passion of the Governor and that is the reason we are here for business”.

“Beyond the supply of equipment, we have come up with a programme ‘Youth to Farm Project’, which will make the youths embrace mechanized farming without much hassles like in using the hoes and machetes.”

“They will be trained on tractors maintenance and operations and will further teach them to know all businesses associated with tractors. If the youths get the knowledge of operating the tractors, they will make fortunes out of it by going into the farms to do the needful and may even become off -takers of their produce, instead of going into “Yahoo Yahoo” activities that would lead them to doom.”

“The women would not be left out in the partnership as we have most of them in the farms than others. Our tractors will be painted pink, which is a colour associated with women. That will further give them respect and further attract them to the farms. If we succeed here, with the necessary encouragement from the State Government like in others, we shall certainly go far” Mr. Ibe concluded.

Also on the entourage of Farmwell Tractors was Engr. Victor Iheme.