By Doris Esa, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
For decades, inadequate mechanisation has remained one of the major constraints to agricultural productivity in Nigeria, limiting the ability of farmers to cultivate larger areas, improve yields and compete effectively in domestic and international markets.
Indeed, albeit its vast agricultural potential, Nigeria continues to rely heavily on manual farming methods, with experts identifying low tractor density as a major obstacle to achieving food security and agricultural transformation.
It is against this backdrop that the Federal Government introduced the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (RHNAMP).
It is a flagship initiative aimed at closing the country’s mechanisation gap through the deployment of 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 specialised agricultural implements.
The tractorisation programme is designed to promote mechanised farming, boost food and nutrition security, create jobs for youths and enhance the overall productivity of the agricultural sector.
Unlike previous interventions, the programme operates on a lease-to-own arrangement, deploying machinery through registered Mechanisation Service Providers (MSPs) rather than distributing tractors directly to individuals.
Government officials describe the initiative as the largest single agricultural mechanisation programme ever undertaken on the African continent.
According to them, the programme is expected to increase productivity, strengthen agricultural value chains, expand cultivated land, reduce food imports and reinforce agriculture’s role as a driver of economic growth and resilience.
Notably, the initiative marks a major shift from conventional equipment distribution to a structured service-based mechanisation model.
Under the arrangement, tractors are deployed through MSPs, with each tractor expected to service approximately 600 hectares annually.
The model targets coverage of more than 1.5 million hectares and direct support for over 1.2 million farmers every year.
At the unveiling of the tractors and agricultural equipment in Abuja in June 2025, President Bola Tinubu said the initiative fulfilled his administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture and ensuring food security for Nigerians.
“We made a promise when we came in. We are fulfilling that promise. Two years ago, I sounded the alarm on our nation’s food security,” the President said.
According to him, agricultural productivity is directly linked to national stability and food sovereignty.
“The ability to nourish our population is the bedrock of a prosperous nation and our ambition extends beyond mere self-sufficiency.
“We envision Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse, supplying quality produce to international markets while ensuring every citizen has access to affordable nutrition.
“That is why we took the bold decision to establish the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme. We are just beginning,” Tinubu said.
He stressed the need to embrace modern farming practices, noting that Nigeria could no longer rely on outdated production methods.
“You don’t have to use 18th-century methods for 21st-century agriculture. Our strategy encompasses year-round cultivation,” he said.
The President urged beneficiaries to ensure proper utilisation of the equipment.
“To stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy them with maximum efficiency. We will work with you, supervise you and hold you accountable.
“Let history recall this day as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renewal, where modern technology transformed farmers’ resilience into unprecedented prosperity,” he added.
Tinubu also commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its efforts in stabilising the nation’s food system.
“Together, we shall cultivate a future where Nigeria is not only sustaining itself but nourishing the world,” he said.
Similarly, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, outlined the programme as a landmark in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation journey.
“It is a bold affirmation that under the leadership of President Tinubu, agriculture is once again at the heart of our national development strategy,” he said.
According to him, the programme represents an unprecedented level of ambition and commitment to agricultural development.
“Never in Nigeria’s history have we witnessed an agricultural mechanisation initiative of this scale, ambition and national focus.
“Guided by the President’s directive, we are unveiling the single largest mechanisation programme ever undertaken in Nigeria,” Kyari said.
He disclosed that the package includes 2,000 tractors, trailers, ploughs, harrows, planters and sprayers, alongside 10 state-of-the-art combined harvesters, 12 mobile workshops and thousands of implements and spare parts.
Furthermore, Kyari said the deployment of the tractors commenced in phases, beginning with an initial batch of 600 units.
“This is not merely an equipment rollout. It is the ignition of a national agricultural productivity revolution, ending the long era of low tractor density in Nigeria.
“Through the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, we are deploying 2,000 heavy-capacity tractors and over 9,000 precision implements under a rigorously engineered national framework,” he said.
The minister explained that the tractors would remain under the management of MSPs to ensure optimal utilisation and sustainability.
He noted that many of the service providers are youth- and women-led enterprises operating under a lease-to-own arrangement.
“This is not just about 2,000 beneficiaries. It is about 1.2 million farmers across more than 1.5 million hectares annually. It is about national food sovereignty,” he said.
Kyari also highlighted the financing architecture supporting the initiative.
“This is not just equipment distribution. It is a governed transformation. Mechanisation provides the horsepower, finance provides the liquidity and policy provides the stability.
“Together, they deliver food security, job creation and economic resilience,” he said.
To ensure sustainability, the minister said each tractor comes with two years of free service support.
According to him, government is institutionalising maintenance culture, genuine parts replacement and asset management systems.
“Mechanisation without maintenance is expenditure, but mechanisation with maintenance is investment,” he said.
Kyari disclosed that government is deploying 36 mobile service trucks and constructing seven mega mechanisation service centres nationwide.
In addition, plans are underway to establish 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.
The minister further revealed that the Bank of Agriculture, in collaboration with Heifer International, is deploying structured financing models to guarantee equitable access and long-term sustainability.
According to him, the intervention forms part of a broader agricultural financing ecosystem supported by a N50 billion catalytic fund through the Bank of Industry.
“We are unlocking agro-industrial investment at scale.
“This wet season alone, N250billion has been mobilised to finance one million smallholder farmers, each cultivating an average of one hectare in partnership with state governments,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, said the programme would enable farmers to access mechanisation services without the burden of purchasing tractors.
He assured stakeholders that implementation would be inclusive, especially for women who constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, said the programme was carefully designed to avoid the pitfalls that affected previous mechanisation efforts.
According to him, more than 10,000 applications were received during the first phase of implementation, reflecting strong interest from agribusiness operators and service providers.
He explained that each tractor must service at least 600 hectares annually to ensure economic viability and operational sustainability.
Beyond tractor deployment, the Federal Government is also exploring long-term financing arrangements with private sector partners to deepen mechanisation across the country’s 774 local government areas.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Kashim Shettima has emphasised the importance of integrating mechanisation with broader agricultural value-chain development.
Represented by Kyari at the inauguration of the Afcott Grains Sesame and Grains Processing Facility in Kano State recently, Shettima stressed that food security cannot be achieved without coordinated investments in production, processing and financing.
“Production must be matched with processing. Mechanisation must be matched with financing. Policy must be matched with private-sector confidence and long-term investment,” he said.
According to him, agricultural transformation rests on three critical pillars of inputs, mechanisation and processing.
He noted that recent investments in agro-processing, crop protection manufacturing and tractor assembly demonstrate growing confidence in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Stakeholders say such investments are critical to strengthening domestic value chains, increasing farmer incomes and creating employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, states such as Adamawa, Oyo and Ekiti have aligned with the federal initiative by deploying tractors to local government areas and introducing subsidies to support smallholder farmers.
Agricultural experts have also welcomed the programme, describing mechanisation as essential to overcoming systemic food insecurity and improving agricultural competitiveness.
They particularly commend the transition from direct ownership to the Tractor-as-a-Service model, which allows operators to rent machinery to farmers on a per-hectare basis, thereby making mechanisation more accessible and affordable.
Nonetheless, stakeholders emphasise the need for sustained investment, effective maintenance, affordability and public awareness to ensure the long-term success of the programme.
In their view, if properly implemented, the tractorisation initiative could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s quest to modernise agriculture, enhance food security and unlock the full potential of its vast agricultural resources.(NANFeatures)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
****If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
