The Federal Government has commenced the training of 4,000 tractor operators as part of its nationwide agricultural mechanisation initiative, enhancing food production, expanding youth employment, and building sustainable food security. 

The training program was formally launched through a multi-agency partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and private-sector technical partner AGCOMS International Trading Limited.

The inaugural cohort of 250 trainees began a two-week intensive residential program on Monday at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State. 

This group represents the first phase of 4,000 participants who will undergo specialised training to operate and maintain advanced John Deere tractors and allied agricultural implements. 

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated that combining the government’s deployment of 2,000 tractors with a certified workforce transforms state equipment allocation into high-yield agricultural output. 

Developed jointly by AGCOMS, NADF, and ITF, the practical curriculum covers tractor safety, hydraulic systems, field applications, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and machinery management, culminating in jointly issued certificates of completion.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, noted that the company’s technical mandate extends from equipment delivery to after-sales support and workforce professionalisation. 

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NADF, Mr Muhammed Abu Ibrahim, highlighted that the initiative creates the human capital foundation necessary to sustain large-scale agricultural mechanisation. Aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the public-private partnership establishes a standardised operational framework to maximise machinery lifespan, improve farm efficiency, and support smallholder and commercial agribusinesses across the country.

Source: Daily Trust
Image Credit: CSS Farms