The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has donated 45 units of 13-horsepower tillers and 1,250 safety jackets to farmers in Plateau State as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity.
The Managing Director of the commission, Abubakar Yelwa, presented the items to beneficiaries on Tuesday in Jos, the state capital. He was represented at the event by Pam Davou, the commission’s Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics.
Yelwa said the intervention was aimed at supporting farmers, particularly those from communities hosting N-HYPPADEC facilities in the state.
According to him, while the tillers are intended to enhance farming activities, the safety jackets will primarily be distributed to fish farmers to promote safety during operations.
“We are doing a lot in the area of youth empowerment, education, health, and security, and today we are here providing succour to farmers,” he said.
“What we are doing today is to support our farmers with these items towards improving farming activities in the state.”
The managing director added that beneficiaries would be organised in clusters and urged them to ensure the equipment is put to good use for maximum impact.
Earlier, Elisha Yilkudi, Permanent Secretary of the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture, commended the commission for what he described as a timely intervention.
He noted that the gesture reflects collaboration between the federal and state governments in addressing manpower challenges in the agricultural sector.
“As a state, we want to collaborate more, and in the course of doing this, many people will know what N-HYPPADEC is all about,” Yilkudi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event drew farmers and relevant stakeholders from across the state.
