James Emejo writes that Nigeria’s push to modernise agriculture is increasingly moving beyond the question of how many tractors are available to a more fundamental one; who will operate, maintain and maximise them? The graduation of 250 newly trained tractor operators under a federal mechanisation programme offers an early glimpse of how investment in human capacity could translate into higher farm productivity, lower production costs and stronger food security
For 24-year-old Idris Zainab Dansuleiman of Keffi, Nasarawa State, the completion of a 10-day intensive tractor-operator training programme has provided more than a certificate. A student with no previous tractor-driving experience, she can now confidently operate a tractor, understand its controls and carry out basic farm operations safely. “It has increased my confidence and given me a practical skill,” she said, adding that she hopes to gain more experience and build a career in agricultural mechanisation.
Dansuleiman is one of about 250 Nigerians who have completed the first cohort of the National Agricultural Mechanisation Service Providers Training Programme organised by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in collaboration with Agcoms International Trading Limited, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
