The Federal Government has unveiled a National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy and investment strategy aimed at expanding machinery access, raising productivity and improving food security.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari said the strategy included plans for a large tractor assembly plant capable of producing between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors every year.
He said Nigeria needed to move beyond one off government purchases of tractors toward a commercially sustainable mechanisation system supported by private investment.
The new framework is designed to mobilise capital, technology, skills and entrepreneurship around farm machinery and related services.
Kyari said the government’s existing mechanisation programme had begun procuring and deploying 2,000 tractors and more than 9,000 implements and spare parts.
He stressed that success would depend on whether the machines were properly financed, maintained, monitored and made available to farmers.
The policy covers the entire agricultural value chain, including land preparation, planting, irrigation, crop protection, harvesting, processing, storage, logistics and transport.
Government also wants the emerging industry to include machinery leasing, local assembly, spare parts manufacturing, digital fleet management and operator training.
Kyari invited investors to participate not only as equipment suppliers but also as long term partners in building an agricultural services ecosystem.
Young people, women and persons with disabilities are expected to participate as operators, technicians, engineers, entrepreneurs and equipment managers.
Financial institutions are being encouraged to create financing, leasing and risk sharing products that make machinery more accessible.
Permanent Secretary Marcus Ogunbiyi said tractors alone would not transform agriculture unless they were supported by trained operators, maintenance systems and affordable finance.
Private sector operator TracTrac said it had already reached more than 500,000 farmers and trained thousands of young people through mechanisation programmes.
The government said implementation, rather than publication of the policy, would determine whether farmers ultimately receive timely and affordable mechanisation services.
