BOA targets 1.2 million hectares yearly with 2,000 tractors nationwide

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) is pushing a new nationwide mechanisation plan aimed at cultivating up to 1.2 million hectares of farmland yearly through the deployment of 2,000 tractors across Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies.

The proposal was presented by the Managing Director of BOA, Mr. Ayo Sotinriade, during Tuesday’s plenary session at the House of Representatives, where he called for collaboration with lawmakers to expand agricultural production at the grassroots level.

Under the arrangement, members of the House of Representatives are expected to contribute 60 per cent of the cost of each tractor to be deployed in their constituencies. The tractors will be used to support local farmers and improve access to mechanised farming services.

Sotinriade said the initiative is part of efforts to move Nigeria away from subsistence farming and improve food production through large-scale commercial agriculture.

According to him, each tractor can mechanise at least five hectares per hour and cover up to 600 hectares annually. With about 2,000 tractors expected to be rolled out nationwide, BOA believes the programme can cultivate as much as 1.2 million hectares every year.

He described the model as a practical system that would make mechanisation accessible to farmers in different communities while ensuring the tractors are efficiently managed.

“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,” Sotinriade said.

He explained that the proposed farming hubs would not only provide tractor services but also serve as centres for irrigation support, aggregation, financial services, extension services, and access to farming inputs.

The BOA boss added that the programme is expected to improve crop yields significantly, with a target of producing more than two tonnes per hectare. He also said the inclusion of irrigation systems would support all-season farming and allow farmers to cultivate multiple times within a year.

Beyond food production, Sotinriade said the project could also address unemployment, poverty, and insecurity by creating income opportunities for people in rural communities.

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

He further stated that the initiative could help Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially in states affected by insecurity such as Borno and Benue, by creating pathways for economic reintegration and self-reliance.

Sotinriade expressed confidence that support from lawmakers would help accelerate agricultural transformation across the country while strengthening Nigeria’s food security efforts.