The Federal Government has unveiled a national policy and investment strategy for agricultural mechanisation, alongside plans for a tractor assembly plant capable of producing between 2,000 and 4,000 units annually.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari announced the initiatives on Wednesday at a High-Level National Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanisation in Abuja, describing mechanisation as central to Nigeria’s effort to strengthen food security, productivity and economic resilience.
The new framework comprises the National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy and the National Agricultural Mechanisation Investment Strategy. Kyari said the measures are intended to shift Nigeria from fragmented government interventions towards a commercially sustainable mechanisation ecosystem in which farmers can access equipment and services when needed.
Under the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, the government has commenced procurement and deployment of 2,000 tractors, alongside more than 9,000 assorted implements and spare parts. The programme was launched in February, with the tractors being deployed through mechanisation service providers rather than handed directly to individual farmers.
The service-based model is designed to widen access, particularly for smallholder farmers who may be unable to afford tractors outright. Government projections have indicated that the programme could support about 1.2 million farmers and cover more than 1.5 million hectares annually.
Kyari said the proposed assembly plant would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported agricultural machinery while creating domestic industrial capacity and employment. The investment strategy is also intended to attract private-sector participation and capital into mechanisation.
The government’s approach extends beyond tractor procurement. The programme includes seven planned mega mechanisation service centres and 36 mobile service trucks for technical support, while tractors are expected to receive two years of service support.
The bigger challenge will be ensuring that the machinery remains productive after deployment. Access to affordable financing, spare parts, trained operators, maintenance infrastructure and suitable rural roads will determine whether the policy translates into higher farm output.
For Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the proposed assembly plant could also mark a significant shift from reliance on imported equipment towards local manufacturing. But its economic impact will depend on execution, private investment and the ability to build a sustainable market around mechanisation services rather than equipment procurement alone.
Kyari urged young Nigerians and women to participate in the emerging mechanisation economy, arguing that they should not only operate machinery but also own businesses, develop technical skills and create new services around agricultural technology.
