President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed that agriculture remains central to his administration’s economic recovery and growth agenda, announcing plans to deploy 10,000 tractors nationwide over the next five years.
Speaking during his Democracy Day address, Tinubu said ongoing investments in infrastructure and agricultural mechanisation are aimed at connecting producers to markets, boosting enterprise development and creating jobs across the agricultural value chain.
According to the President, the initiative will be implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) as part of efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural sector and strengthen food production.
“Infrastructure projects across the nation are linking producers to markets and generating opportunities for enterprise and employment. The National Agricultural Development Fund is set to deploy 10,000 tractors over a five-year period,” Tinubu said.
He added that his administration remains committed to tackling inflation, increasing food production, creating employment opportunities and improving living standards despite prevailing economic challenges.
The tractor rollout follows a procurement agreement worth about $70 million between NADF and AGCOMS International Trading Limited for the supply of 2,000 John Deere tractors. The contract represents the first phase of the broader 10,000-tractor programme.
NADF Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, described the project as a key government intervention designed to modernise agriculture and improve farm productivity nationwide.
He noted that the programme includes not only tractors but also supporting equipment such as ridgers, harrowers and combine harvesters needed for large-scale farming operations.
Ibrahim further disclosed that arrangements have been concluded with the Nigerian Ports Authority to establish a local assembly plant for the tractors, a move expected to promote industrial growth, develop technical skills and create jobs.
Officials say the mechanisation programme is expected to reduce reliance on manual farming, expand cultivated land and significantly increase agricultural productivity across the country.
