News in Brief:
– Nigeria has received the first 2,000 Belarus tractors, a significant step in its agricultural mechanisation drive aimed at boosting food security and economic growth.
– The government has implemented distribution schemes to ensure farmers nationwide have access to this vital equipment.
Nigeria has received the first shipment of 2,000 Belarus tractors, a key component of the government’s push to modernize the nation’s agricultural sector. This development was shared by the country’s Agricultural minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on his official X page.
Promise kept on agricultural mechanisation
Senator Kyari stated that the development is a ‘significant milestone’ in the efforts to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security during an inspection of the tractors in Kwali, Abuja.
He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a renewed hope agenda prioritises agricultural mechanisation, and the administration is delivering on that promise.
Over 200 containers carrying tractors and agricultural implements reportedly arrived in Lagos, with shipments now reaching Abuja. Officials confirmed that 15 tractors were delivered on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, part of a larger batch expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Diverse tractor models to meet varied farming needs
Meantime, the 2,000 tractors, range from 80 to 90 horsepower with both two-wheel and four-wheel drive options. They are allegedly designed to suit diverse farming needs across the country.
Additionally, these machines are accompanied by 9,072 assorted implements, including ploughs, harrows, and seeders, to enhance farming efficiency.
Strategic distribution plans to empower farmers
Specifically, the minister outlined three key distribution schemes to ensure farmers across the country have access to this vital equipment.
- Direct Purchase: Individuals and organisations can buy tractors outright.
- Affordable Leasing: A leasing program provides access to mechanization without full ownership costs.
- Community Service Centers: Tractor service centres will be established in rural areas, enabling smallholder farmers to lease equipment as needed.
Recall that this latest development is a result of engagements by the federal government and foreign partners to develop Nigeria’s agricultural sector. It is a direct offshoot of a past meeting between the country’s Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, His Excellency Vyacheslav Bril, as reported in this publication.
However, according to experts, the initiative is not just about providing tractors. Analysts opine that it’s about transforming the Nigerian agricultural landscape.
To this end, the government aims to boost crop production, create jobs in the agricultural sector, and ultimately reduce the country’s dependence on food imports, by boosting mechanisation. Therefore, this development is a critical step towards achieving sustainable food security and driving economic growth.
