Morganable Agriculture/Farm Technology
The first batch of 250 trainees began a two-week residential training on Monday at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State. They are the first among thousands of participants expected to undergo similar training across the country in phases
kaNo —
The Federal Government has commenced the training of 4,000 tractor operators as part of a nationwide agricultural mechanisation drive aimed at boosting food security, creating jobs and strengthening the country’s capacity for large-scale modern farming.
The initiative, unveiled on Monday, 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.
Officials say the programme reflects a broader strategy to deploy public-private partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by AGCOMS International Trading Limited, the training programme is a key component of the Federal Government’s mechanisation agenda, designed not only to provide modern farm equipment but also to build the skilled workforce required to operate and maintain it effectively.
“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 said.
250 Trainees Began Training In Nasarawa State
The first batch of 250 trainees began a two-week residential training on Monday at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State. They are the first among thousands of participants expected to undergo similar training across the country in phases.
The trainees will be equipped with the technical knowledge and hands-on experience required to operate and maintain modern agricultural machinery, including John Deere tractors and implements being deployed under the government’s mechanisation programme.
Initiative Aims At Prioritizing Food Security
Officials said the initiative aligns with the policy direction of President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises food security, economic growth and job creation through modernisation of key sectors, including agriculture.
Speaking on the programme, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described the training as a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to boosting agricultural productivity through mechanisation.
“This training programme is a direct expression of the Federal Government’s commitment to putting Nigerian farmers in charge of Nigerian food security,” Kyari said.
“Two thousand tractors is a national investment. Four thousand well-trained operators is what turns that investment into a harvest.”he added
According to the statement, the training programme has been carefully designed to bridge that gap by equipping participants with specialised technical skills and nationally recognised certification, thereby enhancing their employability while supporting the growth of mechanisation service providers.
The curriculum, developed jointly by AGCOMS, the National Agricultural Development Fund and the Industrial Training Fund, combines classroom instruction with intensive practical sessions.
Areas of focus include tractor safety, machine operations, hydraulics, field applications, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and equipment management.
At the end of the programme, successful participants will receive certificates jointly issued by AGCOMS, the Industrial Training Fund and the National Agricultural Development Fund.
In addition, each trainee will be provided with a John Deere operator’s manual tailored specifically for the training.
AGCOMS, which serves as the private-sector technical and operational partner, is responsible for designing the training curriculum, developing manuals and deploying experienced instructors for the programme.
The company is also providing technical expertise, equipment support, assembly, delivery and warranty services under the broader mechanisation initiative.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, said the goal is to ensure that every trainee emerges with the 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,” Okoli said.
“Our training programme has been built to turn every new operator into a professional. We are honoured to deliver this alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, NADF and the ITF.”He added
He added that the programme underscores the importance of technical capacity in achieving sustainable agricultural development, particularly as Nigeria seeks to transition from subsistence farming to commercial-scale production.
Stakeholder Emphasized Sustain Investment In Agricultural Economy
The Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Afiz Ogun, also emphasised the need for sustained investment in skills development to support a modern agricultural economy.
“The Industrial Training Fund is committed to ensuring that this programme meets the highest standards of technical training in Nigeria,” Ogun said. “Certified operators are the backbone of a modern agricultural economy.”
Similarly, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the training initiative as a significant milestone in the implementation of the government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Every operator who completes this programme will step onto their tractor with the confidence, the skill and the safety discipline that the equipment deserves,” Ibrahim said. “NADF is proud to see this milestone delivered on time and in partnership with credible institutions.”
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have long identified limited mechanisation and inadequate technical capacity as major constraints to food production in Nigeria.
With most smallholder farmers still relying on manual labour and rudimentary tools, productivity levels remain low compared to global standards.
Experts say that increasing access to modern machinery, alongside building a skilled workforce to operate it, is critical to achieving food sufficiency and reducing the country’s dependence on food imports.
The Federal Government’s mechanisation programme is therefore expected to strengthen the operational capacity of agricultural service providers by ensuring that trained and certified operators are available nationwide.
This, officials say, will improve equipment utilisation, promote higher safety standards and reduce maintenance-related breakdowns.
Beyond boosting food production, the initiative is also projected to create employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians, particularly in rural areas where job prospects are often limited.
By equipping participants with marketable technical skills, the programme is expected to contribute to poverty reduction and rural economic development.
Officials added that the collaboration among the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the National Agricultural Development Fund, AGCOMS and the Industrial Training Fund represents a model for effective public-private partnership in Nigeria’s development process.
They noted that while the government provides policy direction and oversight, private-sector partners contribute technical expertise and operational efficiency, while training institutions ensure compliance with national standards.
As the programme expands across the country, attention will be on its ability to deliver tangible improvements in farm productivity and food supply.
For many stakeholders, the success of the initiative will depend not only on the number of tractors deployed but also on the quality of operators trained to use them.
