The Federal Government has received the first batch of 2,000 tractors and 9,027 other farming equipment from Belarus, as part of its efforts to accelerate food production in the country.
The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, announced this in a video posted on Tuesday. According to Olusegun, the new tractors will be distributed under three key schemes designed to make mechanized farming more accessible to various segments of the farming community.
The distribution schemes include direct purchase for individuals and organizations seeking to acquire the tractors outright, a leasing scheme that provides affordable access to mechanization without full ownership costs, and a service provider model that establishes tractor service centers in farming communities across the country.
This model allows smallholder farmers to lease tractors as needed. The government has also ensured a sustainable maintenance plan, with spare parts procured alongside the new tractors to last for at least four years.
President Bola Tinubu had announced in August 2024 that the government had ordered mechanized farm tools from the United States of America, Belarus, and Brazil to boost food production in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, had earlier disclosed that the Federal Government had started taking delivery of the 2,000 tractors it ordered from Belarus.
The government is focused on reducing the price of food commodities in the country, hence the adoption of new measures to make farming seamless. The receipt of the tractors and farming equipment is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The development is also expected to improve the country’s food security, create jobs, and increase the income of farmers. The government has assured that it will continue to support farmers and the agricultural sector to ensure the country’s food security and economic growth.
