Democracy Day: Tinubu announces move to enhance food production

President Bola Tinubu has maintained that agriculture is pivotal to his administration’s strategy for economic recovery and growth.

The President spoke in his Democracy Day address, pointing out that current investments in infrastructure and mechanization are facilitating connections between producers and markets, thereby creating opportunities throughout the value chain.

Tinubu said that his government through the National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, intends to deploy 10,000 tractors throughout Nigeria, a move he said is aimed at fostering enterprise development, generating employment opportunities, and enhancing food production as part of the initiative to revitalize the nation’s agricultural sector.

He emphasized significant economic reforms and interventions designed to stimulate growth, enhance livelihoods, and fortify Nigeria’s productive sectors.

He said, “Infrastructure projects across the nation are linking producers to markets and generating opportunities for enterprise and employment. The National Agricultural Development Fund is set to deploy 10,000 tractors over a five-year period.”

He further stated that the government is dedicated to curbing inflation, increasing food production, generating jobs, and enhancing living standards, despite the economic challenges many Nigerians currently face.

It will be recalled that the National Agricultural Development Fund has entered into a procurement agreement valued at approximately $70 million with AGCOMS International Trading Limited for the provision of 2,000 John Deere tractors to farmers across the country as part of this initiative.

The contract represents the initial phase of a larger presidential directive that tasks NADF with leading the deployment of 10,000 John Deere tractors over the forthcoming five years.

During the contract signing ceremony, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, stated that the program represents one of the Federal Government’s strategic efforts to modernize agriculture and enhance farm productivity.

He elaborated that the initiative encompasses not only tractors but also essential complementary equipment such as ridgers, harrowers, and combine harvesters necessary for supporting large-scale agricultural production.

Ibrahim mentioned that the agency received approval from the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and subsequently engaged in thorough negotiations with John Deere and other stakeholders to ensure the program’s success.

“We obtained the conveyance from the Federal Executive Council in October, and we have spent three months in rigorous and intensive negotiations with John Deere. We have also conducted stakeholder engagements,” he remarked.

Ibrahim revealed that arrangements have been finalized with the Nigerian Ports Authority to allocate space for an assembly plant that will enable local assembly and distribution of the tractors throughout the nation.

He emphasized that in addition to improving access to modern agricultural machinery, the program aims to stimulate local industrial activities, enhance technical skills, and create job opportunities.

Chijioke Okoli, the Country Director of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, indicated that the project is structured as a comprehensive mechanization initiative rather than merely a procurement of equipment.

It is anticipated that the 10,000-tractor program could signify a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s agricultural sector by decreasing reliance on manual farming, increasing cultivated land, and boosting productivity.