MBALANO, ISUIKWUATO — Civil servants in the Department of Agriculture, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, have officially commenced practical training on tractor operations, land preparation, and machinery maintenance at the council headquarters in Mbalano.
The capacity-building initiative, launched under the leadership of Executive Mayor Hon. Chinedu Ekeke, equips municipal staff with hands-on technical skills in heavy machinery maneuvering, implement attachment, field safety, and routine equipment servicing.
First-Ever Training Initiative Hailed by HOD Agriculture
Commending the initiative, the Head of Department (HOD) of Agriculture, Dr. Udodirioha Arukwe, described the training exercise as a historic milestone for the local government.
Dr. Arukwe revealed that this marks the first time ever in the history of Isuikwuato LGA that civil servants in the agricultural department are receiving formal technical training to operate municipal tractor equipment. He emphasized that the program will dramatically boost the capacity, technical skills, and operational confidence of the workers, transforming them into a skilled, hands-on workforce capable of managing large-scale municipal farming operations.
“This is an unprecedented step forward for our department and our workers,” Dr. Arukwe stated. “By investing directly in the skills of our staff, the administration is building internal capacity that will serve Isuikwuato for years to come.”
Transitioning from Manual Labor to Farm Mechanization
The training program marks a strategic shift from traditional manual land clearing to modern, technology-driven agriculture.
Recall that the MF 375 tractor was acquired by the local government as part of deliberate efforts to drive farm mechanization, eliminate operational bottlenecks for rural farmers, and boost food production across Isuikwuato. By training internal council staff to operate the machinery, the administration ensures the asset is fully utilized, properly maintained, and readily deployed to support local agricultural projects.
Speaking on the initiative, Mayor Chinedu Ekeke emphasized that acquiring machinery must be paired with human capital development.
“Agricultural modernization goes beyond acquiring equipment; it is fundamentally about investing in people and building local capacity,” Mayor Ekeke stated. “Equipping our civil servants with tractor operation skills ensures our machinery is utilized efficiently, maintained properly, and put to immediate work in making land preparation easier and more accessible for our farmers.”
Driving Food Security Across Municipal Projects
The tractor operator training directly supports ongoing municipal agricultural programs, including the administration’s 50-hectare cassava production project across the ten political wards, as well as the active cultivation of reclaimed council lands at Mbalano and the commercial piggery project in Amuta.
With trained agricultural staff operating the council’s MF 375 tractor, local farmers can access mechanized land preparation to clear larger acreage in less time, cut pre-harvest labor costs, boost crop yields, and lower overall food production expenses for Isuikwuato communities.
