FG Begins Training 4000 Tractor Operators to Boost Farming

(Senator Abubakar Kyari. Photo by Nation News)

Under its statewide agricultural mechanization program, the federal government has started training 4,000 tractor operators. This significant endeavor aims to increase modern farming, enhance food production, and provide young Nigerians with employable technical skills.

In an effort to further President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural transformation and economic growth, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is implementing the training through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in partnership with AGCOMS International Trading Limited and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

On Monday, the first batch of 250 participants commenced a two-week intensive residential training programme at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State, marking the pioneer group among 4,000 operators expected to undergo specialised training in the operation and maintenance of John Deere tractors and other agricultural equipment deployed under the Federal Government’s mechanisation initiative.

Speaking on the programme, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the training as a critical component of the government’s strategy to strengthen food security through mechanised farming.

He noted that while the acquisition of 2,000 tractors represents a major investment in agriculture, developing a skilled workforce capable of operating the equipment is essential to achieving the desired increase in food production, adding that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering Nigerian farmers and ensuring that investments in agricultural machinery translate into improved harvests and national food security.

Beyond expanding access to mechanised farming, the programme is expected to build technical capacity among young Nigerians through industry-recognised training and certification aimed at improving their employability and supporting the growth of mechanisation service providers nationwide.

The curriculum, jointly developed by AGCOMS, NADF and ITF, combines classroom instruction with practical field exercises, covering tractor safety, machine operation, hydraulic systems, field applications, preventive maintenance, equipment troubleshooting and management.

Successful trainees will receive joint certificates issued by AGCOMS, ITF and NADF, along with a comprehensive John Deere operator’s manual prepared specifically for the programme.

As the project’s technical partner, AGCOMS International Trading Limited developed the training curriculum, produced the operator manuals and deployed experienced instructors to conduct the residential sessions, while also providing technical support, equipment assembly, delivery services and warranty management under the broader mechanisation programme.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, said the company remains committed to ensuring that every operator receives the practical knowledge required to maximise the value of the equipment.

He explained that the training was designed to produce highly skilled professionals capable of operating tractors safely and efficiently, expressing satisfaction at the company’s role in supporting the Federal Government’s mechanisation initiative.

The programme also highlights the government’s reliance on public-private partnerships to accelerate agricultural development, with the Ministry of Agriculture providing policy direction, NADF overseeing implementation, AGCOMS contributing technical expertise, operator training and after-sales services, and ITF ensuring the programme meets national vocational training standards.

The Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said developing a modern agricultural sector requires sustained investment in human capital, stressing that competent and certified operators are indispensable to the success of mechanised farming.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Engr Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, described the training as another milestone in the implementation of the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.

He said participants who complete the programme would possess the technical competence, confidence and safety awareness required to operate modern agricultural machinery effectively, describing the initiative as evidence of the value of collaboration among credible institutions.

The nationwide training exercise is expected to improve the operational efficiency of the Federal Government’s mechanisation programme by providing certified operators to support mechanisation service providers across the country, enhancing equipment utilisation, and promoting best practices in machinery maintenance and safety.

The initiative is also expected to contribute to increased agricultural productivity, expand employment opportunities for young Nigerians, strengthen rural livelihoods and support the country’s long-term food security objectives.