We could dramatically boost Nigeria’s foreign export earnings and expand our agricultural output at the same time if we stepped up the manufacturing of half-tracks

Ayo Akinfe

[1] For those not familiar with these vehicles, half-tracks are automobiles featuring front wheels for steering and rear continuous tracks for propulsion. They are designed to combine the off-road capability of a tank with the speed and handling of a wheeled vehicle

[2] Widely used in World War Two as armored personnel carriers and gun platforms, half-tracks were essential for manoeuvring over rough terrain, mud, or snow. Since the war, they have been widely used in agriculture and this is a market Nigeria should be cashing in on

[3] Up to one third of Nigerian agricultural output goes to waste because of the poor state of our rural roads and the lack of modern storage, refrigeration and transportation facilities. We need to revolutionise the use of half-tracks to address these challenges

[4] Actually, the first practical half-track was designed in the 1890s by Alvin Lombard for the lumber industry, long before their widespread military adoption. Half-track trucks would be ideal for transporting harvested crops from rural Nigerian farms to their local government headquarters

[6] Modern rubber-tracked half-track tractors reduce noise and cut damage to soil while operating at higher speeds compared with older steel-tracked models. Apart from their use as tractors, during the rainy season, many Nigerian farms are inaccessible and half-tracks would be a blessing to millions of farmers

[7] Half-tracks are manufactured by automobile companies like DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Scania, Isuzu, and MAN. Bodywork is often handled by specialised companies like Paneltex or Gray & Adams

[8] Modern agriculture depends on powerful, reliable machinery. From high-horsepower tractors to precision-guided combines, farm equipment companies are the backbone of global food production. I am looking forward to seeing one Nigerian state governor woo investors to open the world’s largest fast-track manufacturing plant within his domain

[9] Worldwide, the market for agricultural machinery now exceeds $200bm and continues to grow at an estimated 5% to 7%. I look forward to us inviting the likes of John Deere, CNH Industrial, AGCO Corporation, Kubota, Claas, Mahindra & Mahindra to come and open plants in Nigeria

[10] Just imagine them manufacturing refrigerated half-track storage vehicles, half-track farmer trucks, half-track tractors, etc. I am dreaming of the world’s largest manufacturing plant where electronic variants of all these vehicles are manufactured for export all around the globe

ayoakinfe@gmail.com

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