ABUJA – In a bid to enhance food production, President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to lead the deployment of 10,000 John Deere tractors throughout Nigeria.
This initiative will kick off with an initial delivery of 2,000 tractors set for the first half of 2025, with plans to scale up to a total of 10,000 units over the next five years.During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security headquarters in Abuja, NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim announced that the first batch of 2,000 tractors is expected to arrive at Lagos port just in time for the wet season planting.Ibrahim explained.
The National Agricultural Development Fund has been entrusted with the implementation of one of the four mechanization programs of the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This initiative aims to transform Nigeria’s economy by boosting agricultural productivity.”He further noted,The NADF is tasked with rolling out the John Deere tractors as part of this program. Our discussions with John Deere have involved extensive negotiations and stakeholder engagement to ensure the program’s success.”To facilitate a smooth process, the NADF has also signed an MoU with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to provide logistical support.
Ibrahim stated that this agreement will allow AGCOMS International Trading Limited, the contracted sub-dealer for John Deere, to establish an assembly plant near the ports for efficient tractor delivery across the country.Engr. Okoli Chijioke, the Country Director of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, highlighted that the agreement with NADF is valued at $70 million for the initial 2,000 tractors.
He emphasized the importance of the assembly plant not only for the immediate delivery of these tractors but also for training Nigerian youth in the relevant technology.Chijioke remarked, The assembly plant will provide hands-on experience for our workforce, ensuring continuity in product support and enabling us to leverage this opportunity for long-term success in our agricultural sector.”Agriculture and Food Security Minister Sen. Abubakar Kyari praised the NADF for reaching this significant milestone.
He reinforced that the Federal Executive Council supports the MoU and expressed confidence that the mechanization efforts will attract more young Nigerians to agribusiness.Kyari urged the NADF to ensure that the tractors are delivered and distributed to farmers promptly before the onset of the wet season, underscoring the need for sustained momentum in this essential initiative.
Honestly an so much impressed to this agriculture move support by the government and I just hope it will not get onto the hands of the saboteur. And more effectively land should be cleared by federal government and allocated to interested subsistence farming for families and I really think that’s what we need and could bring this food problem down honestly speaking.