The federal government has finalized a $70 million procurement contract with AGCOMS International Trading Limited, the Nigerian sales partner of agricultural equipment giant John Deere, to deliver 2,000 tractors as part of a nationwide mechanization program.
The initiative, now overseen by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), builds on a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere to deploy 10,000 tractors over five years.
The first batch of equipment is expected to arrive before the wet planting season.
The contract includes the supply of tractors and essential farming implements such as plows, harrows, ridgers, and 100 combined harvesters. Farmers will collect their equipment from designated centres in Abuja and Lagos, with payment options available in installments.
A significant component of the agreement is the establishment of a local assembly plant near Nigerian ports to enhance domestic manufacturing capacity.
NADF executive secretary, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, stressed the local assembly’s role in creating jobs and transferring technical knowledge.
“This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to diversify Nigeria’s economy and promote agricultural mechanization.
The local assembly of these tractors will integrate advanced agricultural technologies into Nigeria’s farming practices,” Ibrahim noted.
To address the delays, the NADF has partnered with the Nigerian Ports Authority to streamline importation logistics.
Additionally, training programmes for local technicians and ongoing technical support are part of the $70 million package,
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the mechanisation programme remains significant to revitalising the agricultural sector.
“Our goal is to increase mechanization, expand farmlands, and address the challenges of an aging farming population. This initiative will also encourage youth and women to participate in agriculture by reducing the physical burden of traditional farming methods,” Kyari explained.
He urged AGCOMS International to expedite delivery and ensure timely distribution of the equipment, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the upcoming planting season.
According to Chijioke Okoli, country director of AGCOMS International, “The assembly plant will provide Nigerian youths with hands-on experience, ensuring the sustainability and long-term utility of these tractors.”
