The Oyo State Government has commenced the training of 140 youths in tractor operation as part of its strategic efforts to promote mechanised agriculture and empower the next generation of farmers.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed this on Monday during the flag-off of a four-day training for participants drawn from the Ibadan/Ibarapa zone, held at the Ido Local Government Secretariat, Ibadan.
Olaleye said the program reflects the government’s broader agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to modernise farming practices, tackle youth unemployment, and guarantee food security across the state.
According to him, the initiative will equip young participants with the skills required to replace the state’s ageing pool of tractor operators, ensuring continuity in tillage operations and efficiency in agricultural production.
“This initiative will directly strengthen our tractorisation programme and significantly increase agricultural productivity throughout Oyo State,” he said. “Through this carefully designed training, we are creating sustainable pathways to meaningful employment, economic independence, and a reduction in youth unemployment in both rural and urban communities.”
The commissioner emphasized that the training transcends individual capacity building, noting that it strategically addresses a systemic gap in skilled tractor operators. He explained that bridging this gap is crucial for establishing mechanized farming practices and sustaining food production.
As part of the training, participants were provided with safety kits including overalls, gloves, safety boots, and helmets to ensure compliance with best practices in occupational safety. Outstanding participants, Olaleye added, will have the opportunity to undertake apprenticeships with members of the Tractor Owners Association of Nigeria and established tractor-hiring companies.
The program is also being implemented simultaneously in two other zones, Oke-Ogun and Oyo-Ogbomoso, to broaden its reach and impact.
Some of the trainees expressed gratitude to the state government for the opportunity. Hammed Oladapo said the initiative would help him secure employment in a sector where skilled tractor drivers are scarce. Idowu Babatunde described the training as the fulfilment of a long-standing desire, while Muyiwa Ibikunle noted that mastering tractor driving would enhance his ambition of venturing fully into mechanised farming.
The training aligns with the state’s wider agricultural development priorities, which include the establishment of large-scale agro-industrial hubs. Only last month, the government announced that 3,000 hectares of land at the Ijaiye Farm Settlement had been earmarked for the development of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone and a Rungis-style food wholesale market.
The Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, Dr. Debo Akande, said the project would transform the agricultural value chain, providing farmers with greater market access and higher returns on investment.
