BoA seeks Reps buy-in for nationwide farm mechanisation

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…says scheme can tackle hunger, insecurity

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By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

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The Bank of Agriculture (BoA) has called for collaboration with members of the House of Representatives to drive large-scale mechanisation of arable land across Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies.

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Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Ayo Sotinriade, made the proposal during a presentation at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja, outlining a plan aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and addressing food insecurity.

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Speaking with journalists after the session, Sotinriade said the initiative is structured to deliver multiple economic benefits, including job creation, poverty reduction and improved national food output.

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“This initiative is designed to boost agricultural productivity, create jobs, reduce hunger, and address some of the underlying drivers of insecurity across the country,” he said.

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He explained that the programme would require each lawmaker to fund 60 per cent of the cost of a tractor, which would be deployed within their constituencies to support local farmers.

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According to him, the intervention could significantly scale up farming operations nationwide, noting that “a single tractor can mechanise a minimum of five hectares per hour and up to 600 hectares annually.”

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“With a projected deployment of about 2,000 tractors nationwide, we are looking at the possibility of covering up to 1.2 million hectares of farmland every year,” he added.

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Sotinriade described the proposal as a shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, stressing that it could position Nigeria as a net exporter of food if fully implemented.

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He further disclosed that participating constituencies would establish agricultural hubs to support the scheme, including land allocation and a structured system for tractor usage.

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“Once a member acquires the tractor, they will also provide secured land where we will establish a farming hub, alongside a tractor booking system to ensure efficient usage,” he said.

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The BoA boss noted that the hubs would function as integrated service centres, offering farmers access to inputs, irrigation, aggregation systems, financial services and extension support.

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He added that the programme is expected to improve yields significantly, targeting output levels of over two tonnes per hectare, while irrigation facilities would enable year-round farming.

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“If this is achieved, it will go a long way in lifting people out of multidimensional poverty, improving livelihoods, and reducing insecurity driven by unemployment and low incomes,” Sotinriade said.

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He also highlighted the potential impact on vulnerable populations, particularly Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), noting that the initiative could support their economic reintegration.

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“This programme can serve as a pathway to self-reliance for displaced persons, especially in states like Borno and Benue,” he added.

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