By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Over 108 farmers in Cross River state have benefitted from the government’s subsidized mini-tractors distribution under farmer cooperatives.
This gesture marks the beginning of a comprehensive mechanization initiative aimed at modernizing the state’s agricultural sector.
Cross River State Governor, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu, flagged off the distribution in Calabar during the weekend.
According to him, the event, signaled the commencement of the first phase of the governor’s People-First Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which targets the deployment of 324 mini-tractors within three years to support small holder and cooperative farmers across the state.
Otu, in his keynote address, said the program represents a major step toward repositioning agriculture as a cornerstone of the state’s economic development strategy, noting that the government’s decision was informed by a detailed situational analysis and consultations with farmers across all local government areas.
“We discovered that land preparation remains the biggest constraint to farm expansion and productivity, accounting for over 70 percent of total input cost,” Otu stated. “To address this, we invested in mini-tractors that are robust, fuel-efficient, and adaptable to our unique terrain. These tractors are designed to make farming easier and more profitable for smallholders while reducing production costs and labor intensity.”
The governor described the flag-off as “the beginning of a mechanization revolution” that will empower farmers to move from subsistence to commercial production, enhance food security, and stimulate rural economies.
He explained that the tractors will not be distributed as mere handouts, but through a cooperative model that ensures shared ownership, accountability, and sustainability. Each cooperative, he said, will serve as a community-based service provider, offering affordable mechanization services to other farmers.
“Use these tractors as community assets that will serve many, not few,” the governor urged. “Through collective responsibility, we can ensure that this intervention endures and transforms our rural economies.”
Otu also used the occasion to highlight ongoing agricultural reforms under his administration, including the Cassava Seed Multiplication Project, Project Grow, and pilot sorghum production with Champion Breweries as a key off-taker.
He further disclosed that Cross River is advancing plans for a new cocoa and coffee estate under a public-private partnership, alongside a seven-year roadmap for cocoa, coffee, and oil palm development to strengthen export competitiveness.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting made-in-Nigeria products, noting that the mini-tractors, produced by Bespoke Manufacturing Ltd, demonstrate the viability of local innovation.
“Nigeria remains a consumer nation, but without patronage and determined focus, we cannot encourage our own industries,” Otu said. “That’s why we decided to partner with Bespoke, as the first state to show that made-in-Nigeria products can work effectively.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Crops and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, described the initiative as a “big leap” in the journey towards agricultural transformation, saying it provides a timely and practical solution to the challenges of land preparation, labor shortage, and low productivity.
He explained that each mini-tractor comes with five implements — including a plough, ridger, harrow, seed planter, and one-ton trailer bucket — designed to handle multiple farm operations from land preparation to harvest.
To ensure proper usage and accountability, Ebokpo said all tractors have been fitted with tracking devices, registered with the Cross River Internal Revenue Service, and fully insured by Leadway Assurance.
“The tractors will be distributed to registered farmer cooperatives to encourage collective ownership, responsible usage, and community-based service provision,” he said. “This approach promotes equitable access, accountability, and youth inclusion in agriculture.”
The commissioner also revealed that beneficiaries underwent a two-day intensive training program covering both theoretical and practical aspects of operation and maintenance. He noted that the scheme has recorded massive acceptance among farmers, with applications oversubscribed, reflecting renewed public trust in government programs.
Also speaking, Mr. Femi Odeleye, a representative of Bespoke Ltd, the manufacturers of the mini-tractors, praised Governor Otu’s leadership and vision in making mechanization a priority for small holder farmers.
“By introducing these tractors, His Excellency is not just distributing machines, he is planting the seeds of a new agricultural revolution in Cross River State,” Odeleye said.
He disclosed that Bespoke Ltd is considering establishing a tractor assembly plant in Calabar to serve southern Nigeria and parts of Central Africa, a move projected to create over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and strengthen the local economy.
“We hope to receive your support in providing the enabling environment for this dream to become a reality,” he added. “Cross River is our first partner state in Nigeria, and we are proud to be part of this transformation.”
The launch of the mechanization scheme underscores Cross River’s renewed focus on agriculture as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and food security. With initiatives such as Project Grow, cassava seed entrepreneurship, and upcoming cocoa and coffee estates, the state is positioning itself as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.
