President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurates the distribution of 2,000 tractors to farmers in Abuja, kicking off the “Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme” across Nigeria’s 36 states. The initiative is designed to reduce manual labour, augment food production, and support rural employment expansion.
The government aims to lease out tractors at subsidised rates to farmer cooperatives, with repayment terms spread over five years. This model is intended to ease access to mechanisation tools for smallholder farmers, who currently produce approximately 70% of Nigeria’s food despite limited equipment levels. Agriculture contributes over 25% to GDP and employs nearly 35% of the workforce .
Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari noted that the programme includes training for 2,000 youths in tractor operation and maintenance—adding a skills development component. The scheme expects to reduce post‑harvest losses by up to 30% and increase productivity by 25% in staple crops such as maize, rice, and cassava.
President Tinubu commented, “This is not just about machines—it’s about feeding the nation and creating millions of agro‑based jobs,” reflecting a broader industrialisation push tied to food security and rural prosperity .
Economic experts see the program as a strategic response to challenges in Nigeria’s food systems, including high import bills, fluctuating harvest yields, and youth unemployment in rural areas. Enhanced mechanisation can stimulate agro‑processing industries, reduce import dependencies, and foster export-oriented agriculture. This aligns with ECOWAS-wide agricultural integration goals .
However, sustainability questions remain. Stakeholders urge a strong focus on ongoing maintenance, spare parts availability, and mechanics training beyond the initial rollout period. Accreditation of private sector providers is also being considered to avoid delays when scale increases.
Nigeria’s central bank and multilateral partners, including the African Development Bank, have expressed readiness to supply soft loans for purchasing farm equipment—signaling growing stakeholder interest in mechanisation .
If successful, the programme could double national productivity in key staples within three years, generate thousands of jobs, and initiate a shift from subsistence farming to agro-industrial value chains. The model may serve as a blueprint for ECOWAS member states aiming to meet regional food demand and rural development targets.
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