Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s approach to agricultural mechanisation, stressing that the country must move beyond simply purchasing tractors to a more productive and modern, investment-driven agricultural system.
Zulum made the call while speaking at a High-level National Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanisation organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Governor identified low productivity, limited technology, inadequate investment and weak value chains as major challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He emphasised that mechanisation should be delivered as a service, giving farmers timely access to land preparation, precision farming, irrigation and other modern agricultural technologies.
Commenting on Borno’s agricultural transformation initiatives, Zulum noted that massive investment by his administration in agriculture is central to rebuilding livelihoods and restoring communities affected by insecurity and displacement.
Zulum highlighted a four-pronged approach to agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria, including mechanising agriculture to increase productivity and reduce drudgery, digitalising agriculture to improve precision, intelligence, and efficiency, regenerating agricultural resources to ensure long-term sustainability, and investing in infrastructure, technology, and enterprises that will drive the transformation.
Zulum also called for stronger private-sector participation and innovative financing for local manufacturing and assembly of agricultural machinery, irrigation, renewable energy, storage, processing, value addition and youth- and women-led agricultural businesses.
He emphasised that Nigeria must not simply recreate the agriculture of yesterday, but build the agriculture of tomorrow, which should be modern, smart, climate-resilient, productive and inclusive.
The goal, he said, is to build an agricultural economy capable of feeding the nation, competing globally, creating jobs and delivering sustainable prosperity to rural communities.
The Governor was accompanied by the member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba; Commissioner of Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; CEO/Managing Director of the Borno Investment Company, Mohammed Bukar Umar; and Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mustapha Ali Busiguma.
