Mechanizing Agriculture for a Food-Secure Future

The spiraling cost of food in Nigeria has become a defining challenge of our time. As prices of staples and related goods continue to rise unchecked, the average Nigerian household finds its income increasingly stretched thin, compounding the country’s already high cost of living. This growing crisis calls for decisive and transformative action.

It is the government’s primary responsibility to ensure food security and implement measures that stabilize food prices. Yet, the persistent surge in food costs is driven by a combination of deeply rooted issues: insecurity in key farming regions, the rising cost of agricultural inputs, and chronically low production levels. At the heart of this production shortfall lies a structural weakness—most Nigerian farmers are still engaged in subsistence farming, which produces only modest yields insufficient to meet national demand.

During the House of Representatives plenary on 13th May 2025, Hon. Aderemi A. Oseni, Member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) raised a motion on the need for the Federal Government to procure and lease mechanized agricultural machinery to farmers at subsidized rates in all the local government areas across the federation.

To address this, there is a clear and urgent need for the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, to promote the widespread adoption of mechanized farming practices. Smallholder farmers must be empowered with access to modern equipment, skills, and technology that can significantly increase their productivity and transform the agricultural landscape. Mechanization is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity.

Moreover, a coordinated effort is required to establish farm settlements in all 774 local government areas across the country. These hubs, equipped with up-to-date machinery and essential agricultural inputs, should be made accessible to farmers through subsidized leases or sales. Such infrastructure will not only increase output but also make farming more attractive and commercially viable, drawing investment into the sector.

This bold approach holds the promise of revitalizing the agricultural value chain and ensuring food security for millions. It also presents a unique opportunity to productively engage Nigeria’s youth, injecting fresh ideas and energy into a sector ripe for innovation. If implemented effectively and without delay, this initiative could be a turning point—positioning agriculture as a cornerstone of national prosperity.

The House of Representatives concluded with the following resolutions:

• Mandate the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to invite the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals Office, to work out a modality to procure and lease mechanized agricultural machinery to farmers at subsidized rates in all the local government areas across the federation.
• Mandate the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

This motion is both timely and crucial, especially as the cost of agricultural implements remains far beyond the reach of the average farmer. Many are eager to embrace mechanized farming but lack the financial capacity to acquire the necessary equipment and inputs to realize their goals. Meanwhile, food prices continue to soar, largely because traditional, subsistence farming methods are no longer viable in today’s reality. Implementing this motion has the potential to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to improved food security across the country.

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