Food Security: Fed Govt rolls out 2,000 tractors in mechanisation push
The Federal Government has launched an agricultural mechanisation programme with the deployment of 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 precision implements to boost food production, improve farm productivity, and strengthen national
The Federal Government has launched an agricultural mechanisation programme with the deployment of 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 precision implements to boost food production, improve farm productivity, and strengthen national food security.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative marked the beginning of a major agricultural transformation, describing it as the largest mechanisation programme ever undertaken in Africa.
Kyari explained that the rollout would be implemented in phases, beginning with 600 tractors, followed by additional deployments of 750 and 650 tractors.
He said the programme, under the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, would address Nigeria’s long-standing mechanisation deficit and support over 1.2 million farmers across more than 1.5 million hectares annually.
“This is not merely an equipment rollout; it is the ignition of a National Agricultural Productivity Revolution, ending the long era of low factor density in Nigeria.
“This will culminate in the nationwide deployment of 2,000 mechanisation assets,” he said, adding that over 10,000 applications were received for the first phase.
Kyari said the tractors would not be distributed to individuals but deployed through certified mechanisation service providers to maximise utilisation and ensure wider access.
“These tractors are not distributed for private ownership. They are entrusted to mechanisation service providers where each tractor, with the capacity to service approximately 600 hectares per year, becomes a multiplier of productivity,” he said.
According to him, the programme is expected to enhance food sovereignty, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.
“This is not just about 2,000 beneficiaries. It is about national food sovereignty. Mechanisation provides the power, finance provides the liquidity, and policy provides the stability. Together, they deliver food security, job creation, and economic resilience,” Kyari said.
He added that each tractor would come with two years of free service support, while mobile workshops and mechanisation centres would be established nationwide to ensure maintenance and sustainability.
Speaking further, Kyari said the government would establish seven mega mechanisation centres, deploy mobile maintenance workshops, and build a tractor assembly plant capable of producing between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors annually.
“We are not importing dependency. We are building industrial capability,” he said.
He added that the programme was supported by a N50 billion agricultural financing facility and other investments aimed at supporting smallholder farmers and expanding agro-industrial capacity.
He stated that the private sector and development partners, including Heifer International, the World Bank, and other technical partners, are supporting the initiative through financing, technical expertise, and ecosystem development.
Kyari urged mechanisation service providers, youth entrepreneurs, and women-led enterprises to take advantage of the initiative.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s current mechanisation density of 0.27 horsepower per hectare was far below global and African averages.
He said the government was determined to improve access to mechanisation services for farmers, particularly smallholders.
“If you have 10,000 hectares of rice and rely on manual labour, it will take so long, but with mechanised equipment, it can be completed within days. Mechanisation will significantly improve productivity,” he said.
Abdullahi explained that the programme would operate through mechanisation service centres, allowing farmers to access equipment without the burden of purchasing tractors.
“If you have half a hectare or one hectare, it does not make economic sense to acquire a tractor. But access to mechanisation service centres ensures efficiency and productivity,” he said.
He assured farmers that the programme would be implemented fairly and inclusively, particularly for women who account for a significant portion of agricultural production.
“Women contribute about 70 per cent of agricultural production processes. We will continue to partner with them as we deepen mechanisation,” he said.
Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, said the programme was designed to create a sustainable mechanisation ecosystem and avoid past failures.
Sotinrin, said the programme has already attracted strong demand from agribusiness operators and mechanisation providers, with over 10,000 applications received in the first phase alone.
“This reflects confidence in leadership and in the sustainability of the programme,” he said. “We are investing in businesses, not just distributing assets.”
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He explained that each tractor must service at least 600 hectares annually to remain economically viable, ensuring sustained revenue generation and long-term operational sustainability.
“Nigeria currently has one of the lowest tractor densities in Africa, with approximately 13 tractors per 100 square kilometres of arable land, compared to the global average of 200,” he said.
He added that more than 95 per cent of Nigerian farmers still rely on manual labour, resulting in low productivity and food supply constraints.
“To address this, we are creating a self-sustaining mechanisation ecosystem where investments are recovered and reinvested to expand access nationwide,” he said.
Sotinrin said the programme would operate through structured financing models, including leasing arrangements, service-based repayment, and partnerships with state governments, private operators, and development partners.
“This is renewed hope in motion and agricultural sovereignty in action. We are mechanising productivity, industrialising agriculture, and securing Nigeria’s future,” he said.
The mechanisation programme is expected to boost food production, reduce reliance on manual farming, and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector as a key driver of economic growth.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Sabi (Middle), Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi (2nd right) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi (1st left), during the presentation of a tractor key to a beneficiary at the launch of the agricultural mechanisation programme in Sheda, Federal Capital Territory, yesterday.
