The federal government has launched the Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, an initiative to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with plans to produce 5,000 tractors locally annually.

The programme seeks to introduce advanced agricultural technologies, and promote agro-industrialisation, with a focus on youth participation in agriculture.

According to the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari, who unveiled the programme to stakeholders in Abuja, the plan involved the establishment of model agricultural mechanisation service centres and hubs across 37 designated farming clusters.

These centres, according to the minister, will be equipped with various types of agricultural machinery and will offer training in precision farming, mechanisation and agribusiness to 5,000 participants.

He stated that Origin Tech Nigeria Limited, through its subsidiary, Origin Automobile Work, will lead the production and assembly of mechanisation equipment.

The company planned to set up a manufacturing plant capable of producing 5,000 tractors annually, supported by technical partnerships from South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil.

To finance the project, Kyari disclosed that a $1 billion facility from private sector financing will be utilised, with a 20 per cent upfront counterpart fund of $200 million.

He said that the programme's implementation will involve multiple government bodies and state governments, to ensure the widespread establishment of agricultural mechanisation service centres and large-scale food production hubs.

The project is designed for a 10-year repayment period, with participating states expected to cover the costs through revenues generated from the farm estates and mechanisation services.

Kyari urged all relevant ministries, offices, and bodies to actively engage in the programme, as he also emphasised its potential to transform the agricultural sector, generate employment and create wealth.