Tamale, Jan. 28, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), in collaboration with the Libyan Government, is providing free tractor services to farmers in the Northern Region to help boost agricultural production. The project was initiated by President Muamar Gaddafi of Libya, in fulfilment of a promise he made in Cotonou, Benin in July last year that he would help ensure food security in Africa.

Mr. Adel Alkish, Project Coordinator of the "Green Programme", who briefed the press in Tamale on Wednesday about the initiative, said the programme was to be replicated in all African countries. He said "This is to lessen the dependency of Africa on the developed countries for food and also to reduce the continent's food importation".

Mr. Adel Alkish said the Libyan government had provided 10 tractors for the project, which had already commenced with ploughing services at Golinga in the Tolon-Kumbungu District of the Northern Region and expected to cover the whole country. He explained that the Northern Regional Agriculture Directorate was responsible for the selection of beneficiaries adding that the cost of fuel and maintenance of the tractors would be borne by the Libyan government.

Mr Alkish said that more tractors were expected into the country to augment the existing ones. The Regional Representative of the programme, Mr. Ahmed Dawud said a committee was formed to ensure that more farmers benefited from the assistance and urged farmers to register with the Regional Directorate of Agriculture.