FG boosts agriculture with 2000 tractors, other incentives

In a bold move to transform the country’s agricultural sector, the Federal Government yesterday unveiled a large-scale distribution of modern farming equipment to boost food and cash crop production. A total of 2,000 tractors, 2,000 disc ploughs and harrows, and 1,000 disc ridgers—imported from the Republic of Belarus—were handed over to farmers following an official inauguration ceremony led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, President Tinubu emphasized that the initiative signals a shift from traditional subsistence farming to mechanized, technology-driven, and large-scale agriculture.
Additional equipment distributed includes 1,200 tractor-trailers, 500 seed drills, 300 boom sprayers, 10 harvesters, 12 mobile workshop vehicles, and 9,022 sets of spare parts.
“We made a promise, and today we are fulfilling that promise,” President Tinubu stated.
“Our goal is not only to feed ourselves but to become a global player in agriculture.
“Let this day go down in history as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renewal.”
He explained that the launch is part of his government’s initiative aimed at wooing the youth into mechanised farming, ensuring food security and positioning the country as a global competitor.
“We are making farming more sexy to youths. Agriculture is not just about hoes and cutlasses anymore.
“It is about innovation, entrepreneurship, and nation-building. Our youths must be at the centre of this transformation,” he said.
The President stressed his determination to present agriculture as a viable and profitable career path for the younger generation.
The new agricultural initiative, launched under a bilateral agreement with the Republic of Belarus, aims to cultivate 550,000 hectares of farmland, produce over two million metric tons of food annually, and create more than 16,000 jobs.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency and enhancing global competitiveness, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stressed that boosting agricultural productivity is essential for national stability and economic resilience.
To support the implementation, a nationwide training programme will be introduced for farmers, equipment operators, and technicians, focusing on proper usage, servicing, and maintenance of the machinery.
Key features of the programme include GPS-enabled tracking systems, a structured repayment and repossession model, and financing partnerships with development finance institutions and non-interest banks.
President Tinubu called on all stakeholders—including state governments, service providers, and cooperatives—to ensure the effective and transparent deployment of the equipment across the country.
“To all stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy it with maximum efficiency.
“We will work with you; we will supervise you at various locations, and we will hold you accountable,’’ said the President.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari described the presentation of equipment as the fulfilment of the President’s July 13, 2023, emergency declaration on food security.
“We are shifting from hand hoe to horsepower; from manual effort to mechanised efficiency,” Kyari said.
He acknowledged the key role of AFRA-DMCC, the Belarusian supplier and hailed Belarus’s commitment to technology transfer, local training and long-term support.
The minister expressed hope that the initiative would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports, enhance nutrition and empower a new generation of youth-led ‘agri-preneurs’ to drive innovation and growth in the agriculture sector.
The Republic of Belarus was represented at the event by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich and Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov.
Stakeholders like All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), National Association of Young Farmers and former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Yakub Olajide Bashorun, hailed the launch.
They described the move as a significant step with the potential for substantial impact across the agricultural sector.
‘’It is a welcome development. It is the thing we have been expecting.
“I believe it is going to improve total output and increase farmers’ performance.
“There is no doubt about that,” said Femi Oke, chairman of AFAN (Southwest).