TracTrac Mechanisation Services Limited (TracTrac MSL), a Nigerian agricultural technology company, has unveiled an ambitious programme to train 36,000 young Nigerians in agricultural mechanisation, underscoring growing efforts to modernise the country’s farming sector and tackle persistent productivity challenges.
The initiative, known as Young People in Mechanisation (YPiM), was announced during a press conference in Abuja. It is designed to recruit 1,000 participants from each of Nigeria’s 36 states over the next six months, targeting individuals between the ages of 18 and 35.
The programme seeks to address the country’s shortage of skilled operators and service providers in agricultural mechanisation by combining technical training with entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and advocacy. Organisers say equipping young people with these skills will not only improve access to mechanised farming services but also create employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the launch, TracTrac MSL Chief Executive Officer, Godson Ohuruogu, said the company is committed to democratising access to mechanisation for farmers while positioning young Nigerians at the centre of agricultural transformation.
“At TracTrac, we believe tractors should be within reach of every farmer, not a privilege for a few,” Ohuruogu said. “Young people should not just observe the future of agriculture. They should lead it.”
The company highlighted its growing footprint in Nigeria’s agriculture sector, disclosing that it has supported more than 500,000 farmers through its technology-enabled mechanisation platform. TracTrac also said it has built a network of over 6,000 Mechanisation Service Providers (MSPs) and facilitated the deployment of approximately 800 tractors across several states.
Its digital platform, TracTrac Plus, has recorded more than 5,000 downloads and enabled over 2,000 mechanisation service engagements, reflecting increasing adoption of technology-driven farming solutions.
Beyond skills development, Ohuruogu called for stronger collaboration between government, development partners, financial institutions and private investors to accelerate mechanisation nationwide. He noted that Nigeria faces an estimated deficit of about 250,000 tractors over the next five years, a gap widely viewed as a major constraint on agricultural productivity, food security and rural economic growth.
To help narrow that deficit, TracTrac disclosed it is partnering with a local equipment manufacturer to deploy 565 locally assembled tractors under a pilot programme spanning two states. The initiative is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity while improving farmers’ access to affordable mechanisation services.
The company also revealed that it contributed to the drafting of Nigeria’s proposed National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy, reinforcing its role in shaping industry reforms. Analysts say sustained investment in mechanisation, combined with youth-focused capacity building, could significantly improve farm efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses and support the country’s broader food security and economic diversification objectives.
