2026 budget defence: Taraba House of Assembly Committee salutes tractor unit for achieving above revenue target, knocks others for poor performance

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By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

Taraba State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Food Security has applauded State Tractor Hiring Unit (THU) for hitting above the 2025 revenue target with over 112% profit.

However, the Committee expressed dismay for the poor performance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Speaking shortly after their presentations, the House Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Abubakar Tanko Yusuf representing Takum I constituency applauded Management and Staff of Tractor Hiring unit (THU) for achieving lots despite non availability of tractors in their possession.

The Chairman equally disclosed that financial predicament facing some agencies in the Ministry of Agriculture such as THU, TADP, FADAMA, Fishery, others will soon be addressed by committee members to find a lasting solution towards improving revenue generation in the state.

On the recurrent decimal performance of the Ministry of Agriculture and food security, the committee frown at the management continued below average in revenue generation despite hugh allocation of funds granted to it and warned that it will no longer be business as usual, stressing that the House may be forced to reduce the allocation of budgets to areas that are not beneficial to people of the state.

He also pointed to a lack of proper communication from the Ministry to community level, warning the management of the deceased from relying on making phone calls to farmers but should visit the area concerned.

The committee however sympathized with some agencies lagging behind in revenue generation, promises of adequate budget funding in 2026 fiscal year to enable them overcome their predicaments and advised the commissioner and its management to ensure regular meetings with a view to carry the agencies together.

In their presentations during budget defense, the state commissioner for agriculture and food security, Prof. Nicolas Oliver blamed the challenges to inadequate funding, lack of monthly running cost and weather forecast and appealed to the committee for intervention.

Also, the general manager, Taraba State Tractor Hiring Unit (THU) Engr. Danaladi Shatalis has stated that despite exceeding above 2025 revenue target for the agency, that it has been operating without a single tractor.

According to him, over 100 farmers are trooping to office for tractors but unfortunately none was allocated to THU, a situation he appealed to the state government to allow tractors to be under the state governor’s office.

Meanwhile, other agencies and institutions such as L-PRES, TADP, FADAMA, Fishery, Taraba Agricultural Produce and College of Science and Technology were present during the budget defense.