Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has announced that the National Agricultural Development Fund’s (NADF) plan to deploy 10,000 tractors will bolster enterprise development, create employment opportunities, and enhance food production throughout Nigeria. In his Democracy Day message delivered in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized the importance of agriculture as a cornerstone of his administration’s economic recovery and growth strategy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NADF has initiated a large-scale mechanisation programme aimed at deploying 10,000 tractors over a five-year period. This effort begins with the procurement of 2,000 John Deere tractors as part of a $70 million agreement with AGCOMS International Trading Limited. The agreement includes the supply of tractors and additional equipment to promote modern farming practices.
The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, highlighted that this programme follows approval from the Federal Executive Council and involves negotiations with equipment manufacturers and stakeholders. The initiative not only focuses on providing tractors but also on establishing a sustainable mechanisation system. This system will incorporate local assembly, maintenance capacity, and technical training.
Arrangements are being made with the Nigerian Ports Authority to facilitate space for assembly operations, which will aid in the distribution of tractors across the country. The project also encompasses the training and certification of technicians to ensure the long-term sustainability of modern farming equipment access.
Chijioke Okoli, the Country Director of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, elaborated that this initiative is conceived as a comprehensive mechanisation programme. The company plans to set up local assembly facilities, train Nigerian youths and technicians, and offer after-sales support to ensure the programme’s effective implementation.
Okoli pointed out that the establishment of an assembly plant will provide local participants with hands-on experience in tractor assembly, operation, and maintenance. The programme will also include additional equipment like ridgers, harrowers, and combine harvesters to facilitate large-scale agricultural production. He expressed confidence that this initiative will significantly expand cultivated farmland, lessen reliance on manual labour, and boost overall agricultural productivity in Nigeria.