The Nigerian government has officially received the first batch of 2,000 Belarusian tractors, in line with the country’s efforts to modernize its agricultural sector and strengthen food security.
These tractors, which have been assembled in Abuja, were procured as part of a mechanisation partnership between Nigeria and Belarus, a collaboration that was formalized in September 2024.
Speaking on the achievement, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, hailed the delivery as a crucial step toward fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s vision of transforming agricultural practices across the nation.
This initiative aligns with the government’s ongoing commitment to addressing Nigeria’s food crisis by enhancing mechanised farming techniques.
Earlier, the Minister had announced plans to import these tractors as part of broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s farming practices.
Alongside the tractors, the partnership will also see the delivery of 9,072 different types of agricultural implements designed to support various farming activities, from planting to harvesting.
The tractors will be distributed through three key models to ensure accessibility and maximise their impact on Nigerian agriculture. The first model offers direct sales, allowing individuals and organizations to purchase the tractors outright.
The second model is a leasing scheme that makes mechanisation more affordable by enabling farmers to access tractors without the full upfront costs of ownership. The third model involves setting up tractor service centers within farming communities, which will allow smallholder farmers to rent tractors as needed for their operations.
This initiative is expected to substantially improve farming efficiency, reduce the reliance on manual labor, and contribute significantly to the country’s long-term agricultural transformation goals.
