Cross River state is set for a paradigm shift in its agro- industrialisation drive by introducing easy to operate tractorisation system that is semi- manual.
Demonstrating a hand-operated ploughing machine at the Industrial Park, Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade described the special tractor as a “utility machine that has the ability to execute multiple farming tasks.”
He disclosed that though the machine has its origin in Asia, the West African Fabrication and Construction Academy, Calabar which his administration established “will soon commence mass fabrication of it in collaboration with our Cambodian technical partners who are here.
“This is a utility machine. This machine you are seeing here has the ability to execute multiple farming task. It is a new tractorisation system that is semi-manual”, the governor further said.
According to him, “the machine ploughs, so it can plough your soil to enable you plant. It is also a vehicle- all you need is change the steel tyre to normal rubber tyre and put a hook at the back and it becomes a vehicle capable of carrying about five persons in the farm.
“It is also a generator, it can generate electricity. It can equally function as a pumping machine to pump water to water your farm.”
Also, demonstrated at the Industrial Park was a hand operated mini- mechanized rice milling machine.
The governor pledged that the milling machine will also be mass produced at the Fabrication Academy, saying industrialised part of Asia actually started with the production of mini- machines.
