Youths get training on use of tractors

Selected youths from various communities in the South-West part of the country are being trained on the use of tractors, aimed at increasing food production and reducing unemployment.The programme, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was part of series of programmes designed to build youth capacity across the nation.This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, while declaring open a one-week training workshop on tractors operation and maintenance organised by the Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators Training Centre (AMMOTRAC) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.Odusote, who explained that the workshop will focus on the tractor, said the programme would expose youths to other farm machinery and implements.According to her, the training will also help to upgrade the skills of the trainees for those who have been in the system while those who never handled tractors before will be able to operate fully at the end of the training programme.Odusote said, 'we need tractor operators and mechanics to do their best to prevent frequent or sporadic breakdown which render tractors useless soon after their purchase. It is for this purpose that we have gathered you together to build your capacity as stakeholders in mechanisation service delivery. 'She, however, pledged that the ministry will continue to demonstrate its commitment to food production and improve on mechanisation delivery services.According to her, the ministry will ensure that all the 200 agricultural equipment hiring centres under the private sector initiative are functional to provide employment to those trained in tractor operation and maintenance.Speaking earlier, the Head of AMMOTRAC, Abiodun Ladeinde, said the centre had contributed to the success of the agricultural transformation agenda by training different levels of operators.Ladeinde explained that the centre has introduced extensive operators training programmes for Youth Empowerment in Agricultural Programme, saying 'participants were also trained on maintenance, trouble shooting and how to rectify technical faults as well as train participants on machinery management.'He, however, solicited for government's support in developing the centre, noting that some challenges affecting the centre included, security, inadequate staff, offices and eqiupment and lack of official vechicle.
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