The Association of Government-Approved Commodities and Services (AGCOMS) has called for urgent investment in agricultural mechanisation to transform Nigeria’s farming sector and enhance national food security.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja on Monday, AGCOMS President, Dr. Emmanuel Ogbonna, stressed that outdated farming methods remain a major obstacle to productivity and rural development. He urged both the federal and state governments to prioritize access to modern machinery, including tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems.
“Without adequate mechanisation, we cannot achieve the scale and efficiency needed to feed our growing population or compete in global markets,” Dr. Ogbonna said. “Nigerian farmers are hardworking, but their output is limited by manual labour and insufficient technology.”
AGCOMS emphasized the need for public-private partnerships to provide farmers—especially smallholders—with access to affordable leasing schemes, training, and maintenance services for agricultural equipment.
Dr. Ogbonna also appealed to financial institutions to increase support for agricultural mechanisation projects through tailored loan products and risk-sharing frameworks.
Stakeholders at the event echoed the group’s position, noting that increasing mechanisation is critical for reducing post-harvest losses, improving yields, and attracting youth into agriculture.
The group pledged to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant state agencies to push forward policies that promote innovation and technology in farming.
With agriculture accounting for over 20% of Nigeria’s GDP and employing a majority of the rural population, experts say that improving mechanisation could be a game-changer for economic diversification and food sufficiency.
