Agriculture
Boosting Food Production Via Mechanised Farming
From all indications, the Federal Government has been striving to promote the food security of the country.
Observers say that the government has demonstrated its determination to boost food production in the country via its sustained support to the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), for instance.
They note that the government’s efforts are essentially based on the fact that no nation can satisfy the food requirements of its citizens it solely relies on subsistence farming.
NCAM was set up by Degree No. 35 of 1990 (now an Act of the National Assembly), with the overall objective of accelerating the pace of mechanisation in the agricultural sector.
Speaking on mechanised farming, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, maintained that it was only mechanised farming that could guarantee Nigeria’s food security.
The minister made the assertion recently in Ilorin during the launch of some machines developed by NCAM.
Adesina stressed that mechanisation services were included in the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) because of the importance of mechanised farming.
At the event, NCAM displayed some of its innovative fabrications like Tricketor — the first made-in-Nigeria tractor.
The minister gave the assurance that the machines produced by NCAM would be distributed to 18 states across the country for endorsement and subsequent commercialisation.
However, Adesina used the occasion to assure the country’s farmers that tangible efforts were underway to supply them with quality equipment and mechanised services.
He said that the Federal Government had been able to attract AGCO, the world’s leading manufacturer of tractors, to invest about $100 million (about N16 billion) in the country.
Besides, the minister said that an all-inclusive private sector-driven equipment hiring scheme had been introduced to improve the farmers’ access to affordable mechanised services.
Adesina said that the hiring of machines would be subsidised and managed through private sector-driven Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise in “priority’’ sites across the country.
He pledged that 60 of such enterprises would be established across the country and equipped with 300 units of tractors, 1, 590 planting, harvesting and post-harvesting agricultural equipment.
Adesina said that the Federal Government, in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture and the private sector would provide N3.5 billion for the programme’s implementation.
“The Federal Government will provide 35 per cent of the funds; the Bank of Agriculture will provide 35 per cent, while the private sector will provide the remaining 30 per cent as equity contributions.
“We expect that the private sector will deploy 10,000 units of tractors, planting implements, harvest and post-harvest equipment between 2013 and 2015.
“The mechanisation approach of the ministry is structured to ensure 25 per cent local content of these tractors, while 75 per cent of the parts will be imported. They shall be locally assembled on Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) and Completely Knocked Down (CKD) bases,’’ he said.
Adesina expressed the hope that the tractor hiring centres would provide about 2,000 job opportunities for the youth, while expanding cultivated land area by 150, 000 hectares.
The minister projected that the venture would add about 600,000 tonnes of food to the country’s current food stock.
Mr Ike Azogu, the Executive Director of NCAM, said that the three-wheeled mini-tractor was developed in collaboration with Bespoke Design Concept Company.
He said that most of the components of Tricketor could be locally sourced.
Azogu solicited the Federal Government’s financial support to enable the centre to duplicate 10 prototypes of the machine in the various ecological zones of the country.
He also highlighted the other achievements of the centre, which included the development of cassava peeling machine, motorised sifter, pelletising machine, cassava screw press and direct discharge multi-purpose milling machine.
Some of the machines fabricated by NCAM include maize sheller, modified multi-crop thresher, melon sheller, oil palm processing line, combined cassava grating and chipping machine, as well as motorised groundnut decorticator, among others.
Besides, Azogu said that NCAM was able to adapt and improve on some imported machines such as rice mill, oil and filter press as well as hammer mill without sieves.
Experts believe that the government’s efforts to promote mechanised farming and the achievements so far recorded by NCAM would rekindle the interest of the youth in agriculture.
The need to promote mechanised farming is, however, not a country-specific challenge, as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says that in sub-Saharan Africa, over 89 per cent of farm power is provided by human labour.
Observers note that most Nigerian youths have jettisoned farming for other professions because of the labour-intensive nature of agriculture in the country.
However, they urge the government to sustain its efforts to boost food production in the country via sustained investment in modern farming equipment.
They add that this will not only aid Nigeria in efforts to achieve a robust agricultural sector, it will also engender food sufficiency and job creation in the country.
Dariya writes for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Veronica Dariya
This the farmers attributed to inadequate pest control facilities, lack of in-depth managerial skills, crisis, Climate control and other factors.
These were the observations of the farmers during the training of 6000 Cassava farmers and facility tour both at Fashola Agribusiness hub and Iseyin.
The training was coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology (AATF) Foundation and National Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia state, funded by Germany based Foundation.
The project coordinator of AATF, Samuel Ogunleye said the training has benefited the farmers immensely.
According to him, ‘the training is designed to benefit 6,000 Cocoa farmers in the 33 local government areas of the state.
‘The programme was incubated in 2023 but inaugurated in 2024. The programme has taken place in Ido and Ibarapa areas with the training of over 1,200 farmers.
‘Today similar programme is taking place here in Iseyin with over 2,000 farmers in attendance.
Farmers are being trained on how to increase their output as well gets it to the market through modern technology.
‘In Iseyin, there is a modern Cassava processor machine aimed at easing the processes.
‘The local farmers have access to the processor at a subsidize rate. Also, the foundation is assisting them at getting their products to the market”.
In his own presentation, the team leader, National Root Crops Research Institute, Dr. Adeyemi Olojede said the training was designed to address the decline in the
production of Cassava nationwide.
He said: ‘The training is designed for the off season in order to allow active participation of farmers.
‘Some of the challenges confronting the farmers are tabled while the solutions are proffered.
On the issue of funding, the University don blamed successive administrations in the Country for paying lip service to the sector.
According to him, the Research Institutes in the Country have not been able to access the Budget in the past five years.
The researchers are using their personal contacts to access funds from local and international organization to carry out research.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, has lauded the Federal Government’s approval of 57 crop varieties to strengthen agricultural productivity in the country.
The Lagos State AFAN Chairman, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen, Wednesday in Lagos.
Reports said that in March 2026, the Federal Government approved 57 new improved crop varieties to boost food security, improve nutrition, and strengthen agricultural productivity.
The crops, selected for early maturity, higher yields, and resistance to pests and diseases, include 14 different types of staples, with notable advancements in rice, maize, yam, soybean, and plantain.
Agbayewa noted the approval of the crop varieties would help improve the yields of farmers in the state.
“We are excited to hear about the 57 new varieties of crops recently approved.
“What we desire currently in crop farming is not just about planting, it is about increased yield.
“A farmer can have a plot of land and have a high yield and another can have big plots of land and have a low yield.
“So, if when are talking about food security, it starts from the varieties you are planting and it starts from the seedlings”, Agbayewa said.
He described the introduction of the crops as a new development for crop cultivation.
“This newly approved 57 crop varieties should however be popularised among local farmers because not everyone is aware of this latest development.
“There are lots of issues currently affecting the cultivation of crops and the development of improved crop varieties will help the farmer’s productivity.
“Issues such as climate change effects, inconsistent rainfall patterns and weather clash among others are affecting farmers’ yield,” he said.
Agbayewa said there should be massive advocacy of the approved crop varieties across the board for farmers, adding, “The government is now waking up to their responsibility. So, we are”
The event, with the theme “Aligning Science, Enterprise, and Policy to Scale Insect-based Feed Solutions,” brought together policymakers, researchers, regulators, private investors, and BSFL farming entrepreneurs to map out strategies for integrating insect protein into Nigeria’s agricultural system.
According to him, black soldier fly larvae can feed on organic waste including market and kitchen refuse and develop into high-protein feed within 10 to 14 days.
“It contains about 40 to 45 per cent protein, making it a viable alternative to some protein source feed ingredients in poultry, fish, and pig feed ration if produced sustainably” he said.
Amole noted growing interest from feed manufacturers, stressing that supply, not demand remains the major constraint
“The question now is who can produce at commercial scale,” he added.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s comparative advantage, citing its tropical climate and abundant organic waste, which support year-round production without the need for expensive temperature control systems.
He however emphasised the need for standardisation to ensure consistency in nutrient quality and safety across producers.
Also speaking, a Senior Scaling and Innovation Expert from the institutes ‘headquarters in Nairobi, Dr. Ijudai Jasada, identified fragmentation within the BSFL value chain as a major barrier to scale.
“We need a coordinated system that connects all actors and reduces inefficiencies,” he said.
Stakeholders at the Roundtable reached a consensus that ILRI should take the lead in establishing and championing a national platform on BSFL.
Jasada said plans are underway to establish a national coordination platform to improve collaboration, attract investment, and support long-term growth of the sector.
He said the goal is to integrate insect-based feed into Nigeria’s mainstream feed industry by 2030, while creating employment opportunities for women and youth.
On capacity development, Prof. Cordelia Ifeyinwa Ebenebe of Nnamdi Azikiwe University acknowledged ongoing training efforts by development partners and institutions but warned that Nigeria’s regulatory framework for insect-based feed remains underdeveloped.
She noted that standards are still evolving and are expected to align with benchmarks being developed by the African Organisation for Standardisation.
Similarly, Prof. Olugbenga Adeniran Ogunwole stressed the importance of safety assurance and regulatory clarity, warning that policy gaps could hinder large-scale adoption.
He identified key challenges, including variability in nutrient composition, digestibility concerns linked to chitin content, and relatively high production costs.
A BSFL producer, Mr. Kolawole Ogunleye, said large-scale production remains difficult due to limited access to equipment, financing, and infrastructure, adding, “The process is labour-intensive, and most of the equipment is still imported,” he said.
From the private sector, Mr. John Amole, Country Representative of New Generation Nutrition (NGN), described insect protein as a growing but still underutilised solution in Nigeria.
He noted that although insect meal has been approved as a feed ingredient, it has yet to gain widespread market acceptance.
“There is interest, but the ecosystem is still developing, and there are no guaranteed off-takers,” he said.
Sharing international experience, Ms Talash Huijbers of InsectiPro, Kenya, highlighted the success of circular economy models that convert organic waste into protein and fertiliser.
The roundtable concluded with key recommendations, including the establishment of a clear legal framework for insect-based feed, financial incentives for startups, standardised substrates, integration into national waste management systems, and increased funding for research and extension services.
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