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AGRICULTURE: Federal Government To Boost Food Production.... Plans To Train 819 Tractor Operators

The Representative of the Permanent Secretary, FMAFS,Director, Department of Planning and Policy Coordination Mr Ibrahim Tanimu during the Workshop in Abuja.

"There is no national policy on agricultural mechanization in Nigeria, the development of this mechanization policy comes at a critical time when the government is exploring various avenues to procure agricultural equipment amidst low agricultural output." Fashedemi, PS FMAFS 

"The significance of the national policy in Agricultural mechanization is to attain food security, livelihood security, strong export – push and import substitution components".


To boost the nation's food security and production, the Federal Government has through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security concluded plans to train 819 Tractor Operators and Mechanics to equip them with broad knowledge, practical skill in handling Agricultural Machinery to enhance food production. 

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Peter Temitope Fashedemi, during a 2 Day Stakeholders Workshop on the Review of Draft National Agricultural Mechanization Policy Document held in Abuja, recently.

Mr. Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director, Department of Policy and Planning Coordination, Mr Ibrahim Tanimu expressed the ministry’s readiness to train 819 tractor operators and mechanics at Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators Training Centre (AMMOTRAC) at Akure and Misau respectively.

He added that "the training will deepen their knowledge and provide strong ground in Agricultural Mechanization Technology with excellent practical experience".

The Permanent Secretary stated that agricultural mechanization would provide technological inputs, increase and expand productivity through efficient, cost effective as well as sustainable strategies.

He noted that "there is no national policy on agricultural mechanization in Nigeria, the development of this mechanization policy comes at a critical time when the government is exploring various avenues to procure agricultural equipment amidst low agricultural output."

He stressed that "the significance of the national policy in Agricultural mechanization is to attain food security, livelihood security, strong export – push and import substitution components".

Mr. Fashedemi assured that "implementation of this policy will create an enabling environment for vibrant agricultural mechanization activities, and confident it will lead to increase in productivity, improved food security, and higher income for farmers".

He also revealed that "the Ministry will seek to reinvigorate Mechanization deployment through the engagement of Original Equipment Manufacturers OEM’s such as John Deere/Tata, Belarus tractor, Greener Hope Initiative Programme and Green Imperative Programme (GIP) to provide 32,500 Units of tractors with implements, and other assorted machinery for the next 5 years. This will provide the fulcrum and stimulate the youths and women into agricultural production in Nigeria."

In his remarks, Representative of the Origin Tech Group, Dr Olasupo Musa stated the organization had organized capacity training for 5,000 youths in equipment handling and repairs as well as establishment of 150,000 hectares of medium and large scale farms nationwide. He also pledged continuous support for the mechanization programme in line with the Present Administration’s policy in the agriculture sector.

In attendance were various stakeholders in the agriculture sector such as John Deere/Tata, Belarus tractor, Greener Hope Initiative Programme, and Green Imperative Programme (GIP)

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Assistant Director FMAFS on behalf of the Director Information and Public Relations.

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