Share!
The Federal Government has launched a nationwide programme to train 4,000 tractor operators under its agricultural mechanisation project, aimed at strengthening food security and building a skilled workforce for modern farming.
The initiative is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in partnership with AGCOMS International Trading Limited and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The first batch of 250 trainees began a two‑week residential programme at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State, where they are learning to operate and maintain John Deere tractors and other implements.
Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari said, “Two thousand tractors is a national investment. Four thousand well‑trained operators is what turns that investment into a harvest.”
The training curriculum combines classroom instruction with practical sessions covering tractor safety, hydraulics, field applications, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Graduates will receive nationally recognised certificates jointly issued by AGCOMS, ITF, and NADF, along with operator manuals tailored for the programme.
AGCOMS Managing Director Chijioke Okoli stressed the importance of human capital in mechanisation.
“At AGCOMS, we know that the value of a tractor is created by the person in the seat. Our training programme has been built to turn every new operator into a professional,” he said.
The ITF and NADF also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the programme meets the highest technical standards.
The initiative forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agricultural transformation, youth employment, and food security. Officials say the programme will improve equipment utilisation, support mechanisation service providers, and lay the foundation for a modern farming sector.
Nigeria currently has only 5,000–10,000 tractors in operation, far below the estimated 250,000 needed over the next five years
No related posts.
