FG begins training of 4,000 tractor operators for mechanisation drive

The Federal Government has commenced the training of 4,000 tractor operators under its national agricultural mechanisation project as part of efforts to strengthen food security and build the skilled workforce required to drive large-scale modern farming across the country.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by AGCOMS International Trading Limited on Monday, which said the nationwide training programme is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the National Agricultural Development Fund in partnership with AGCOMS International Trading Limited and the Industrial Training Fund.

“The Federal Government has commenced the training programme for 4,000 tractor operators under its national agricultural mechanisation project, with private-sector technical partner AGCOMS International Trading Limited playing a central role in preparing the skilled workforce that will power one of the country’s most ambitious agricultural modernisation programmes,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the first batch of 250 trainees began a two-week residential training programme on Monday at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State. They are the first of the 4,000 operators expected to be trained nationwide to operate and maintain modern John Deere tractors and other agricultural implements under the Federal Government’s mechanisation programme.

The statement said the initiative forms part of the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at transforming agriculture, improving food security, creating jobs for young Nigerians and boosting economic growth through mechanised farming.

Speaking on the programme, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described the exercise as a practical demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food production through mechanisation.

He said, “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.”

According to the statement, beyond increasing the country’s mechanisation capacity, the programme is designed to ensure that investments in agricultural equipment are matched with investments in human capital.

It added that the initiative reflects the government’s recognition that achieving sustainable food security requires not only modern machinery but also a skilled workforce capable of operating, maintaining and maximising the productivity of the equipment.

The statement further noted that the programme would provide thousands of young Nigerians with specialised technical skills and nationally recognised certification, thereby improving their employability while supporting the growth of mechanisation service providers and commercial agriculture.

It explained that the training curriculum, jointly developed by AGCOMS, NADF and ITF, combines classroom instruction with extensive practical sessions covering tractor safety, machine operations, hydraulics, field applications, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and equipment management.

Participants who complete the programme successfully will receive jointly issued certificates from AGCOMS, ITF and NADF, while every trainee will also be provided with a John Deere operator’s manual specifically developed for the programme.

The statement said AGCOMS, as the programme’s private-sector technical and operational partner, designed the curriculum, developed the training manuals and deployed experienced instructors for the residential sessions.

It added that the company is also providing technical expertise, equipment support, assembly, delivery and warranty services under the broader Federal Government mechanisation project.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, said the company’s objective was to ensure that every operator acquires the practical competence required to maximise the value of the tractors.

“At AGCOMS, we know that the value of a tractor is created by the person in the seat. Our training programme has been built to turn every new operator into a professional. We are honoured to deliver this alongside FMARD, NADF and the ITF,” he said.
According to the statement, the programme also highlights the Federal Government’s strategy of using public-private partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation.

It explained that while the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security provides policy leadership and NADF oversees implementation of the mechanisation project, AGCOMS contributes technical expertise, operator training and after-sales support, while the ITF ensures compliance with nationally recognised vocational and technical standards.

The Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr Afiz Ogun, said developing a modern agricultural economy required sustained investment in technical skills.
He said, “The Industrial Training Fund is committed to ensuring that this programme meets the highest standards of technical training in Nigeria. Certified operators are the backbone of a modern agricultural economy.”

Also commenting, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the programme as another milestone in implementing the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.

He said, “Every operator who completes this programme will step onto their tractor with the confidence, the skill, and the safety discipline that the equipment deserves. NADF is proud to see this milestone delivered on time and in partnership with credible institutions.”

The statement added that the nationwide exercise is expected to strengthen the operational capacity of the Federal Government’s mechanisation programme by ensuring that certified operators are available to support mechanisation service providers across the country, improve equipment utilisation and promote higher maintenance and safety standards.

It noted that the collaboration among the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NADF, AGCOMS and ITF is expected to lay the human capital foundation for a modern mechanised agricultural sector while supporting increased food production, rural prosperity, youth employment and national food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.