BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI—Brand new agricultural equipment imported by the Ebonyi State government for distribution to farmers have abandoned to rust away at the state Civil Service Secretariat, Unity Square, Abakaliki, the state capital. The equipment, which were worth millions of Naira include tractors, harvesters, planters and reapers were heaped at an open space in the Unity Square even as the farmers who were supposed to be the beneficiaries were wondering why the equipment were purchased in the first place.

The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike told South East Voice that the delay in the distribution of the farming equipment was due to the technicalities involved in the coupling them together by the experts. Also, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Romanus Nwasum, who declined to disclose the cost of the equipment, added that they were brought in by his Ministry in February this year pointing out that they would be distributed to farmers during the flag-off of this year’s farming season in the state.

However, the tenure of the present administration in the state will end on May 29, hence the equipment might not be distributed in the life of the Chief Martin Elechi-led government. The equipment, especially tractors, were said be depreciating fast as they were left in an open place with their parts seen littered in different corners of the state secretariat instead of in an agricultural ware-house where they would not only be safer but maintained.

Farmers, who spoke with South East Voice on the condition of anonymity, condemned the wastage of the agricultural equipment at the state secretariat instead of allowing the primary benefactor access to them. “It is indeed an eye-sore seeing these agricultural equipment worth millions of Naira lying waste at the secretariat. “How can we become the food basket of the nation when agricultural equipment worth millions of Naira are allowed to lie waste in the open and under the harsh effect of both the sun and the rain,’’ he said.