Lokoja — The Kogi State government has distributed 50 tractors, two bulldozers, two Pick-up vans and agro- chemical products to farmers across the 21 local government areas of the state.

A statement by Joseph Adedoyi, quoted the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, as saying while distributing the farming machinery, that the commercial Agricultural Development Programme was geared towards ensuring food security in the state.

According to him, part of his transformation agenda was to move the state from the traditional farming method to a modern farming system, saying that agriculture was the main stay of the nation's economy prior to the advent of petroleum, and pledged to restore the lost glory of agriculture in the state.

He warned that the era of misusing government property was gone and anyone found handling government property carelessly would not be spared.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Yusuf Evinavor, said that the Commercial Agricultural Development Programme was being financed by the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the state government.

He disclosed that government had spent over N400 million for the prosecution of the progamme.

He urged local government areas in the state to ensure quick recovery of the cost of the farming machinery distributed through them to enable others to benefit from the scheme.