Over 100,000 apply as FG distributes 2,000 tractors

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bank of Agriculture have shared more than 2,000 tractors and heavy farming equipment with mechanised farmers across the country to increase food production and improve food security.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sontinrin, confirmed the development in a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The tractors were distributed under the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (NAMP). The programme is supported by Heifer International and Heifer Nigeria. Its goal is to modernise farming and make agriculture more productive and sustainable.

According to the officials, the programme is not just about giving out tractors. It is also designed to build a strong agricultural system that supports farmers and adds value to the entire food chain.

Mr Sontinrin said the programme focuses on proper financial management, inclusion of youth and women, and the use of digital tools to ensure transparency and long-term benefits. He urged beneficiaries to take good care of the tractors, repay their loans on time, and build successful agribusinesses that can create jobs.

Senator Kyari explained that more than 100,000 people applied in the first phase of the programme, showing strong interest nationwide.

The tractors are being given out through Mechanisation Service Providers using a lease-to-own model. This means the tractors are not for private ownership but are used to provide services to many farmers. Each tractor is expected to cover about 600 hectares of farmland every year, reaching about 1.2 million farmers across 1.5 million hectares annually.

Many of the service providers are youth- and women-led businesses. The Bank of Agriculture is handling the financing, while the ministry will supervise the programme, ensure quality control, and provide training and monitoring.

As part of the backstory, the Federal Government received the first batch of 2,000 Belarus tractors in February 2025 as part of efforts to modernise agriculture. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the purchase.

In June 2025, the President officially launched the tractors and 9,000 additional farming tools under the programme to support youth and women farmers.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries pay through a pay-as-you-go leasing plan lasting three to five years.

They make a 25 percent down payment and pay 15 percent interest. The programme also provides maintenance support and digital tracking of the equipment.

Officials say the distribution of tractors and equipment is a major step toward boosting mechanised farming, improving food security, and creating sustainable jobs for farmers across Nigeria.