Taraba Unveils ₦16 Billion Agricultural Mechanisation Programme -

JALINGO, Taraba State — October 24, 2026

The Taraba State Government has announced an agricultural mechanisation and rural road development programme involving equipment valued at ₦16 billion, with all 16 local government councils signing an agreement to support the initiative.

Radio Nigeria reported on October 3 that Governor Agbu Kefas announced the acquisition, delivery and testing of agricultural and road construction equipment intended to support farming and rural infrastructure development across the state.

The programme involves a partnership between the state’s 16 local government councils and Origin Tech Limited. According to the report, the agreement covers the development of rural roads and the deployment, operation and maintenance of equipment.

The government says the initiative is designed to improve access to farmland, connect farming communities to markets and help farmers benefit from modern agricultural technology.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Oliver, described the initiative as the Taraba Accelerated Agriculture and Rural Development Scheme. Its proposed areas of focus include agricultural production, mechanisation, irrigation, aggregation and processing.

Origin Tech Limited’s chairman, Prince Sam Joseph, also disclosed that six agro-centres had been developed through the company’s partnership with the state government.

The programme could help address some of the challenges faced by rural farmers, particularly difficulties transporting produce, accessing machinery and connecting to storage and processing facilities.

However, the extent of its impact will depend on how the equipment is distributed, the communities selected for road construction, the cost of accessing mechanised services and the maintenance arrangements put in place.

Further details on the equipment inventory, project locations, road construction schedules and access arrangements for smallholder farmers would help the public assess the programme’s implementation.

The participation of all 16 councils marks a statewide commitment to the initiative. Its longer-term success will depend on whether the planned infrastructure and agricultural services reach farming communities and improve their productivity and market access.