FG Begins Training 4,000 Tractor Operators to Create Jobs and Boost Food Production in Nigeria
Nigeria’s drive towards modern agriculture has received a major boost as the Federal Government begins the training of 4,000 tractor operators under its national agricultural mechanisation programme. The initiative is expected to improve food production, create employment opportunities for young Nigerians, and strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
The programme is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and AGCOMS International Trading Limited.
What the Programme Means for Nigerians
The first batch of 250 trainees has already commenced a two-week residential training at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State. Participants are learning how to safely operate, maintain and troubleshoot modern John Deere tractors and other farming equipment.
Successful trainees will receive nationally recognised certificates jointly issued by AGCOMS, ITF and NADF, improving their chances of securing jobs in commercial farming, mechanisation service companies and other agricultural businesses.
According to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, the programme will ensure that government investments in tractors translate into increased food production across Nigeria.
“Two thousand tractors are a national investment. Four thousand well-trained operators are what turn that investment into a harvest.” — Abubakar Kyari
Why This Matters
Nigeria currently faces a shortage of agricultural machinery. Experts estimate the country needs about 250,000 tractors over the next five years, yet only 5,000–10,000 tractors are currently operational. Training skilled operators is expected to improve equipment utilisation, increase farm productivity, reduce food shortages and create thousands of technical jobs for young people.
The initiative also supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on food security, youth empowerment, rural development and economic growth through mechanised agriculture.
For more information, visit:
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: https://agriculture.gov.ng
- Industrial Training Fund: https://itf.gov.ng
- National Agricultural Development Fund: https://nadf.gov.ng
The FG tractor operators training programme represents more than a skills acquisition initiative—it is an investment in Nigeria’s future. By equipping thousands of young Nigerians with practical agricultural skills, the government aims to improve food production, expand employment opportunities and build a more productive and sustainable agricultural sector.
