Nigerian farmers have been given more resources in terms of fund and implements, to work with to enhance agricultural productivity in the country. To begin with, the Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), through the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project, have disbursed over N500 million to 1,797 rural farmers across Edo State.
The programme is funded by the Federal Government, NDDC, IFAD, and the nine Niger Delta states. The Edo State Coordinator of LIFE-ND Project, John Omoruyi, disclosed that 4,360 persons had benefited from the project since inception in 2020, adding that the state had in 2024, surpassed its target of 4,250 with a record of 4,360. Omoruyi said the empowerment for rural farmers was made possible by Governor Monday Okpebholo following his approval of N1.6 billion for the project.
“The project has been going on in 10 out of the 18 local government areas of the state. With the approval of N1.6 billion by the governor, the project will capture the remaining eight local government areas.
Since the current administration assumed office three months ago, the LIFE-ND project has disbursed over N500 million to support 1,797 women and youths”, he said. He noted that with the counterpart fund by the state government, an additional 2,000 jobs would be created, and that the objective of the project was to promote rural engagement of women and youths in agriculture, as business. Adding that the project was designed for youths between the ages of 18 and 35, persons with disabilities and women, among others.
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Similarly, the Jigawa State government has acquired 300 tractors, 60 combined harvesters, and other implements, including planters and thrashers. This was disclosed by Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, during the 2025 Wheat Green Field Day that was held in the Dabi, Ringim council of the state, to celebrate a successful wheat farming season. Namadi said the achievement in the state’s agriculture sector clearly shows the government’s commitment to making it a leading wheat producer nationwide.
“Today, we gather not just to celebrate a harvest, but to celebrate the remarkable strides Jigawa State has made in transforming our agricultural landscape, particularly in wheat production.
“We stand here on the fertile fields of Jigawa, a testament to the hard work, dedication and resilience of our farmers. Let me take this opportunity to inform the honourable minister and all our partners in the journey to agricultural transformation that we have gone far in our plan to establish the Jigawa Farm Mechanisation Company, which will cover all 30 constituencies in the state.
Already, 300 tractors, 60 combined harvesters, and other implements, including planters and threshers, have been procured to be launched hopefully within the first quarter of this year”, he said. The governor further informed that the state had gradually transformed into a leading producer of wheat in Nigeria, while outlining how it progressed from cultivating 55,000 hectares in 2023/2024 season to an impressive 80,000 hectares in 2024-2025.
The governor added that the development is a clear testimony of an inclusive economic growth that would benefit all farmers in the state. “Our vision is ambitious yet achievable, we aim to cultivate 500,000 hectares of wheat by 2030. This target is firmly aligned with our 12-Point Development Agenda and our Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
We are confident that through strategic investments, technological advancements and continued collaboration, we will realise this goal”, he said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari, had commended the Jigawa State government for its proactive approach to wheat production, describing it as a model for other states.
Senator Abubakar Kyari
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
The minister affirmed that “the state continues to break its own record in doing well among its peers in every sphere of agricultural development. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to his excellency for the remarkable successes achieved in the preparation of farmlands and distribution of agricultural inputs in Jigawa State, in the ongoing 2024/2025 dry season farming under the African Development Bank’s National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket Programme in Dabi, Ringim”, the minister revealed. The event was organised in partnership with the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), and brought together wheat farmers, policymakers, development partners and agricultural experts to assess progress and discuss strategies for boosting wheat production in the country.
In similar vein, Nigeria’s agricultural mechanisation drive has received a boost with the arrival of the first batch of 2,000 Belarus tractors. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the revelation when he paid an unscheduled visit to the site to see for himself the number of units delivered so far and how many the country is still expecting. “We are excited that we have received more than 30%.
As we were leaving, another two trucks just arrived. The tractors would be deployed for the 2025 wet season farming. We have enough spare parts for the next four years. We will train youths in 774 LGAs”, he said. The minister, during the inspection, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Nigeria-Belarus mechanisation partnership, which was formalised in September 2024.
“As we speak, over 200 containers carrying tractors and implements have arrived in Lagos, with about 20 containers currently in transit to Abuja. Today alone, we have successfully taken delivery of five containers, each carrying three tractors, making a total of 15 tractors in this batch.
“Under this initiative, 2,000 tractors are being deployed, each complemented by 9,072 assorted agricultural implements designed to support different farming operations. The tractors come in four models tailored for various terrains and farming needs: 90-horsepower (2-wheel drive), 90-horsepower (4-wheel drive), 80-horsepower (2-wheel drive), and 80-horsepower (4-wheel drive). Each category consists of 500 units to ensure that farmers across the country have access to the appropriate machinery. This delivery is a direct fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agricultural mechanisation as a key driver of food security and rural economic growth.
“This is a case of ‘Promise Made, Promise Kept’. Mr. President, the Farmer President of Nigeria has, once again, demonstrated his commitment to delivering tangible results that will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians”, Kyari stated.
The Federal Government is expected to use three models to distribute the equipment to maximise impact. The three key schemes include direct purchase for individuals and organisations seeking to acquire them; a leasing scheme that provides affordable access to mechanisation without full ownership costs; and a service provider model that establishes tractor service centres in farming communities, allowing smallholder farmers to lease tractors as needed.
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