The Federal Government says it is working out effective modalities to ensure that the newly acquired Belarus tractors stationed in Sheda benefit smallholder farmers across the country.
President Bola Tinubu had, on June 23, inaugurated 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 specialised farming implements for the cultivation of more than 550,000 hectares of farmland nationwide.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja on the sidelines of activities marking the 2025 World Food Day.
Abdullahi said President Tinubu had made it clear that the tractors must not end up in the wrong hands.
He explained that the President had directed the ministry to develop a programme or scheme that would guarantee smallholder farmers access to the services of the forthcoming Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centres.
“This is what we are working on; it’s a work in progress. We’ve gone very far with the arrangements, and we don’t want a situation where these tractors will end up in the wrong hands,” the minister said.
He added that the government was targeting both the upcoming dry season and the next rainy season to begin deploying the tractors to the intended beneficiaries.
According to Abdullahi, the tractors are equipped with advanced technology, including automated servicing features that prevent usage when maintenance is due.
The minister assured that training and spare parts support would accompany the mechanisation rollout to ensure sustainability and empower young Nigerians.
“We want to ensure these tractors are used sustainably. There’s a training component in the supply, and spare parts are included. Young Nigerians can operate them because the tractors are IT-enabled,” he said.
He added that the new tractors would soon be deployed to the Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centres to provide affordable mechanisation services for smallholder farmers.
The initiative aims to empower farmers with modern equipment, reduce manual labour, and boost agricultural productivity.
The expected outcomes include the production of over two million metric tonnes of staple foods and the creation of thousands of jobs for youths and women across Nigeria.
