The Federal Government has commenced the training of 4,000 tractor operators as part of a nationwide initiative to strengthen mechanised agriculture, improve food production, create skilled jobs, and enhance food security across Nigeria.
The programme, launched on Monday, is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMARD) through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in partnership with AGCOMS International Trading Limited and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The initiative is designed to provide the skilled workforce needed to operate and maintain 2,000 modern tractors being deployed under the Federal Government’s agricultural mechanisation programme.
Speaking at the commencement of the training, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the programme as a key component of the government’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture and improve national food production.
According to Kyari, while the acquisition of tractors represents a major investment, the availability of competent operators is essential to achieving meaningful results.
“This training programme is a direct expression of the Federal Government’s commitment to putting Nigerian farmers in charge of Nigerian food security. Two thousand tractors is a national investment. Four thousand well-trained operators is what turns that investment into a harvest,” the minister said.
The first batch of 250 trainees has begun a two-week residential training programme at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State, marking the first phase of what officials described as a significant human capital development initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, said successful mechanisation depends on the competence of equipment operators.
He explained that the training curriculum combines classroom instruction with practical field experience to produce professional tractor operators capable of safely operating and maintaining modern agricultural equipment.
Okoli noted that AGCOMS is partnering with FMARD, NADF and ITF to deliver internationally recognised technical standards while supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
The Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, also emphasised the importance of technical skills in building a competitive agricultural economy.
He said certified operators would become the backbone of Nigeria’s mechanised farming system, helping to improve productivity, efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, described the initiative as another milestone in implementing the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He said graduates of the programme would possess the technical competence, safety awareness and operational discipline required to maximise the performance and lifespan of the tractors while ensuring efficient service delivery across the country.
Participants will receive intensive training in tractor operations, preventive maintenance, equipment safety, hydraulics, troubleshooting, field applications and machinery management.
Successful trainees will earn joint certification from AGCOMS, ITF, and NADF, along with specialised John Deere operator manuals prepared specifically for the programme.
Beyond improving access to modern farming equipment, the initiative is expected to reduce dependence on manual farming, increase agricultural output, improve operational efficiency and minimise post-harvest losses.
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The programme is also expected to stimulate rural economic development by creating employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians while supporting commercial agriculture and sustainable food production.
Government officials said investing in skilled tractor operators would protect public investments in agricultural machinery and ensure the long-term success of Nigeria’s mechanisation drive.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to build a technology-driven agricultural sector capable of boosting productivity, expanding commercial farming, strengthening rural livelihoods and achieving long-term food security.
