FG trains 300 tractor operators, mechanics for mechanized farming

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under its Department of Agricultural Mechanization has commenced the training of 300 selected youth as tractor operators and mechanics from the 19 northern states to boost mechanized farming in the country. Speaking during the commencement of the exercise held Monday at the Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators […]

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under its Department of Agricultural Mechanization has commenced the training of 300 selected youth as tractor operators and mechanics from the 19 northern states to boost mechanized farming in the country.

Speaking during the commencement of the exercise held Monday at the Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators Training Center (AMMOTRAC) in Misau, Bauchi State, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Markus Ogunbiyi, said the goals of the program align directly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the agricultural sector which is to enhance productivity, create jobs for our teeming youth, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Representing by Suleiman Majid, the Director Department of Agricultural Mechanization, Ogunbiyi explained, “To achieve food security for our nation, we must move from subsistence farming to modern, efficient, and competitive agriculture. This transformation is impossible without mechanization. Tractors and their implements are the workhorses of this revolution. However, a tractor is only as good as the individual who operates it and the mechanic who maintains it.”

Ogunbiyi said, “This is why this training is not just another program; it is a strategic investment. An investment in human capacity, which is the most critical factor for success. This comprehensive manual you have before you has been meticulously designed to equip you with more than just basic skills. It will provide you with the theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on experience required to operate and maintain tractors safely, efficiently, and profitably.

“To our operators, you will learn to be masters of the machine-understanding its controls, performing pre-operation checks, and executing field operations with precision while prioritizing your safety and that of others at all times.

“To our mechanics, you are the guardians of these vital assets. This training will empower you to diagnose problems, perform routine maintenance, and conduct necessary repairs. You will ensure that these machines remain in optimal condition, minimizing downtime during crucial farming seasons and extending their lifespan, which is an economic imperative for our farmers.”

Ogunbiyi said for the first time in the ministry, “we are having a department that carters for agricultural mechanization, which we never had in the past and that’s tells the importance mechanization in the ministry.”

“However, we discovered that in most cases when you buy tractors in this country they don’t last for more than two or three years is because what we have in most cases are what I will refers to as tractor drivers not tractor operators and we want to have that right and the only way we start is by training them.

“Those of you who are lucky to be the first set, this is not just the end but the beginning because at the end this training all your datas would be taken. We will make sure that more and more trainings comes your way and whoever needs the services of operators you will be the first set that would call upon,” he added

Ogunbiyi charged the participants to take the training with the utmost seriousness it deserves, adding, “Be attentive, ask questions, and engage fully in the practical sessions. The knowledge you gain here will not only make you sought-after professionals but will also empower you to become successful entrepreneurs, providing vital services to farmers in your communities. Let us work together to ensure that no tractor is abandoned due to a lack of technical know-how. Let us work together to reduce the cost of food production and increase our national output.”

Earlier in this remarks, Head of Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators Training Center (AMMOTRAC) in Misau, Hashimu Yunusa Kwami, said the mandate of center is to train federal, state, local government and private operators to build capacity of personnel to boost agricultural mechanization in the country.