The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has said the proposed National Policy on Agricultural Mechanisation will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector once approved.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Marcus Ogunbiyi, disclosed this at a two-day validation workshop on the policy held on Tuesday in Ilorin.
Represented by Sule Majeed, Director of the Federal Department of Agricultural Mechanisation, he explained that the draft document emerged from extensive national consultations with stakeholders and experts.
He stressed that Nigeria’s agricultural mechanisation rate remains far below global standards.
“Our mechanisation rate stands at a mere 0.27 horsepower (hp) per hectare, compared to the FAO recommendation of 1.5 hp/ha.
“More than 78 percent of farm power still comes from human muscle, 15 percent from animals, and only 7 percent from mechanical sources,” he said.
According to him, this dependence on crude, labour-intensive methods has depressed yields, slowed productivity, and worsened post-harvest losses, leaving the sector unable to meet the demands of Nigeria’s growing population.
He noted that the new policy envisions a transition from subsistence farming to modern, commercial, and competitive agriculture, anchored on sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation.
“It is our chance to reduce drudgery, create wealth, ensure food security, and make agriculture a profession of pride and profit for millions of Nigerians,” Mr. Ogunbiyi said.
The Executive Director of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Abdulgafar Kamal, added that the policy would reposition mechanisation as a central driver of food security, youth employment, and sustainable development.
“The policy, once validated and adopted, will improve access to mechanisation services, encourage local manufacturing and assembly of machinery, support skills development, and ensure mechanisation is both sustainable and environmentally friendly,” he said.
The workshop was attended by commissioners of agriculture from various states, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, and other stakeholders.
