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What we’re learning, building and seeing in the field.
Stories, ideas and practical insights from the work of making agricultural mechanization more accessible.
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37 articles
November 3, 2026
Equipping the People: Use of Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) by ISSAM Programme MSPs
All 2,512 participants from year 1 of the ISSAM programme in partnership with Mastercard Foundation have received the same kit: a helmet, a pair of boots, a jacket, an overall, a raincoat, a face cap, a handkerchief, two shirts, along with a tablet, a power bank and a back pack.
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October 30, 2026
TracTrac Opens Applications for Memberships to Mid and Large Sized Mechanization Cooperatives
TracTrac MSL is inviting mechanization service providers (MSPs), equipment owners, farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperatives and associations to apply to join mid- to large-sized agricultural mechanization cooperatives. Members get support to register their cooperative, train operators and managers and more.
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October 29, 2026
How a Mechanization Cooperative Works: A Plain Guide for Nigerian Farming Groups
A mechanization cooperative is a group organized to provide agricultural mechanization services and create value for its members. Members may contribute machinery, technical skills, customer relationships or management capacity. A cooperative is more than a collection of people with a common interest, it needs structures for decisions, responsibilities and enterprise management.
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October 15, 2026
Inside the TracTrac Mechanisation Investment Roadshow: What's at Stake for Nigerian Agriculture
For years, the conversation around agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria has centered on this question: how do we get more tractors into the hands of farmers? But the more we have worked within the mechanisation ecosystem, the clearer it has become that the challenge is bigger than tractors.
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October 8, 2026
TracTrac's Young Innovators in Agricultural Mechanisation Pitch Challenge: Roju Autospray wins ₦1 Million
Roju Autospray founded by Yusuff Adebonuola Lawal won ₦1 million at the Young Innovators in Agricultural Mechanisation Pitch Challenge organised by TracTrac. Discover how the Challenge is supporting young Nigerians building solutions for agricultural mechanisation and smallholder farmers.
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September 15, 2026
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Mechanization: The Future of Nigerian Farming
Climate-smart mechanization is not only about physical machines. Digital tools are becoming an essential part of the picture. Remote sensing, geographic information systems, and satellite data can tell farmers where moisture levels are dropping before visible signs of drought appear.
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September 4, 2026
The NAMP Journey: Building Nigeria's Roadmap for Agricultural Mechanization
For years, one question has shaped conversations around agricultural mechanization in Nigeria: how do we get modern farm equipment into the hands of the millions of farmers who need it most? The answers have never been simple.
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September 3, 2026
Where to Rent a Tractor Near You: Small Tractors, Trailers, and Ploughs Explained
When you type "rent a tractor near me" into Google in Nigeria, you'll often get a mixed bag: dealership pages for buying new tractors, listings from another state entirely, or business pages that haven't been updated in years.
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August 11, 2026
Beyond Tractors: How ISSAM Project Is Powering Rural Farming with Labour-Saving Devices
At the end of year one of the ISSAM project, the numbers tell a clear story. The project distributed 283 grain threshers, 283 treadle pumps, 566 solar-powered knapsack sprayers, 566 fertiliser applicators and 283 soil testing kits. But it didn’t end there.
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August 10, 2026
High-Level National Policy Dialogue and Ratification of the National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy 2026
TracTrac MSL, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is convening the High-Level National Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanization, themed: "Anchoring National Food Sovereignty Through Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization Policy, Innovation and Strategic Investment."
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July 20, 2026
Tractor-hailing in Nigeria: The Uber-Style Way to Book Farm Machinery
Instead of relying solely on word-of-mouth or local contacts, farmers can connect with tractor owners and mechanization service providers through tractor hailing apps like TracTrac Plus, making access to farm machinery faster and more convenient.
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July 20, 2026
How to Hire a Tractor in Nigeria: With Cost Breakdown
This guide breaks down the process of finding the networks and digital platforms to hire a tractor step by step, shows what tractor hire actually costs right now, and points to where the more reliable providers are found.
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July 20, 2026
Renting a Tractor in Nigeria: The Complete Guide for Farmers
Renting a tractor has become the practical route to mechanised land preparation, and a growing number of digital platforms, or tractor-hailing apps now make it possible to book a tractor from a phone.
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July 15, 2026
Leading Agricultural Mechanization Service Firms Driving Farm Productivity in Nigeria
These companies connect smallholder farmers, who make up roughly 70% of the country's farming population, to tractors, implements, financing, and trained operators, often through digital platforms and pay-as-you-go models.
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July 15, 2026
Why the Private Sector Is the Real Driver of Nigeria's Mechanization Future
Nigeria's mechanization level remains at just 0.027 horsepower per hectare (FAO Open Knowledge), far below the Food and Agriculture Organization's recommended 1.5 hp/hectare. From tractor distribution schemes to subsidized equipment programs, the public sector has dominated efforts to modernize farming.
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July 6, 2026
Top 5 Tractors for Farming in Nigeria and Their Prices
Buying a tractor in Nigeria is more than choosing a popular brand. In this blog, we sat with our expert on farm mechanization to discuss the best options, prices and things to consider before making a costly farming investment.
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June 29, 2026
TracTrac Expands Mechanization Access, Deepens Policy and Youth Engagement
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June,2026 TracTrac Mechanization Service Limited (TracTrac), a Nigerian-led agricultural technology company, is redefining access to mechanized farming for smallholder farmers across the country.
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June 18, 2026
Tractor Uses in Agriculture: The Ultimate Guide to Types, Applications & Benefits
This guide is written for anyone who needs to understand tractor uses in agriculture: from the smallholder farmer assessing whether to invest in a compact tractor to the agribusiness professional structuring a mechanization service enterprise to the development practitioner designing a rural agriculture program.
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June 11, 2026
Operators' Training and Community Demo Events Strengthen Mechanization Ecosystems Across Nasarawa - ISSAM Project
Over 28,000 farmers were reached in April and May as the ISSAM project drives operator training and community demo events with year 1 MSPs across Nasarawa state.
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June 9, 2026
Who is a Mechanization Service Provider (MSP)? Their Role in Nigerian Agriculture Fully Explained
According to the FAO and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), a mechanization service provider is an individual, cooperative, or firm that offers equipment-based agricultural services to farmers.
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May 21, 2026
International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026: Women Must Be at the Center of Nigeria’s Mechanization Future
The FAO designated the year 2026 as the International Year Of The Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), a formal global recognition of what communities across Nigeria have always known but rarely said out loud: that women are not just participants in agrifood systems.
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May 11, 2026
Why Nigerian Farmers Still Use Hoes in 2026?
Nigeria’s low mechanization rate is holding back food production. Here’s why millions of Nigerian farmers still rely on manual tools like hoes and cutlass- and what is changing.
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April 2, 2026
Nigeria’s Mechanization Shift: What It Means for Farmers and the Future of Farming
There is a growing understanding that agricultural mechanization in Nigeria cannot succeed as a government-only effort.
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March 26, 2026
TracTrac Launches Inclusive Agricultural Mechanization Strategy
The full strategy is available for download. - On March 9, 2026, at a convening aligned with International Women's Day, TracTrac launched its Inclusive Agricultural Mechanization Strategy. The full strategy is available for download.
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March 18, 2026
Turning Lessons and Demand Into Impact: Inside the ISSAM Project Year 2
When TracTrac launched the second year of the ISSAM project in October 2025, the response was overwhelming. Over 17,000 young Nigerians applied to become trained mechanization service providers (MSPs).
Read articleFebruary 25, 2026
Q&A: How 25-Year-Old Chiluun Terver Is Growing His 25-Hectare Agribusiness
In Gboko, Benue State, Terver cultivates yams, cassava, soybeans, and groundnuts on a scale that many twice his age have not attempted.
Read articleFebruary 25, 2026
How the ISSAM Project is Creating a New Generation of MSPs: Abigail’s Story
The phrase “employment opportunity” is not something many rural youths in Nigeria can confidently say they have experienced. So when those words appear on a poster in their community or are mentioned in a sensitization meeting, it often sounds like every other promise they have learned to question. In a country where smallholder farmers still […]
Read articleSeptember 18, 2025
TracTrac Mechanization Forum 2025: The State of the Mechanization Ecosystem in Nigeria.
TracTrac is set to host a landmark event to spark National dialogue, foster partnerships, and chart a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. To attend, see registration link at the bottom.
Read articleSeptember 18, 2025
TracTrac Flags Off Distribution of Mechanization Equipment to Formed Cooperatives in Nasarawa State
TracTrac officially flagged off the distribution of Tryctors, Planters, Disc Ploughs, Harrows and Tractor Buckets in Nasarawa state.
Read articleAugust 14, 2025
International Youth Day 2025: Local Youth-Led Mechanization Enterprises for Global Impact
African youths are creative, resilient, and innovative. These qualities place them at the forefront of driving change not just locally, but globally. From financial innovations in tech to breakthroughs in engineering and medicine, young Africans continue to prove that they are problem-solvers, visionaries, and leaders. Through our Improving Smallholder Farmers Access to Small-scaled Mechanization Services(ISSAM) Project in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, TracTrac is positioning youths as a driving force in transforming rural economies.
Read articleAugust 1, 2025
Farm Tractor vs. Mini Tractor: Which Is Right for Your Needs?
Africans can no longer afford to see farm tractors as a luxury in farming. It’s a necessity. As labor becomes more expensive and unpredictable, farmers across the globe are turning to machines to boost productivity, reduce manual workload, and meet growing food demands. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations emphasizes that agricultural mechanization is a key driver of sustainable food production, especially in low- and middle-income countries where smallholder farmers form the backbone of the food system.
Read articleJuly 17, 2025
Understanding Tractor Horsepower: How Does It Affect Performance?
Tractor horsepower is one of those things you must understand before you purchase any tractor. Ultimately, the tasks you perform on your farm will guide you in making this decision and understanding how the horsepower will affect performance. But what does horsepower even mean? Let’s dive into it. Horsepower is simply a fancy way of saying how strong a tractor is. The term was introduced by engineer James Watt in the late 18th century. In this era, people used real horses to pull heavy things on farms. So, we now measure a tractor’s strength by comparing it to how
Read articleJune 27, 2025
How to Choose the Right Tractor for Your Farm
If you’re in the market for a tractor, you probably already know that this is not a small purchase. Unlike a car that you might trade in after a few years, choosing the right tractor for your farm is a long-term investment and one that could last decades with proper maintenance. But how do you make the right choice? With so many brands, horsepower options, and attachments, it can feel overwhelming. The truth is, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” tractor. The best choice depends on your farm size, the type of crops you grow, and the tasks you need to perform. This guide will walk you through
Read articleApril 8, 2025
Inside Tractrac and Mastercard Foundation’s Partnership: Improving Smallholder Farmers’ Access to Small-Scale Agricultural Mechanization (ISSAM) Project
Imagine a future where 135,000 smallholder farmers, including women, youth, and people with disabilities, are empowered with modern agricultural tools and knowledge. An agricultural ecosystem with 6,054 new and existing mechanization service providers (MSPs) trained, equipped, and thriving across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the next five years, Tractrac and the Mastercard Foundation are turning this vision into reality through the Improving Smallholder Farmers Access to Small-Scale Agricultural Mechanization (ISSAM) initiative. The agricultural sector is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy
Read articleApril 8, 2025
Improving Access to Agricultural Mechanization for Smallholder Farmers using Technology.
Food Production involves a wide range of complex procedures such as land clearing, planting and weeding, harvesting, transportation, processing, storage, and consumption. This process requires mechanization and technological inventions to improve and facilitate production as well as increase productivity. According to a study published by the International Conference of the West African Society of Agricultural Engineering, 90% of farmers in Nigeria conduct farm operations using hand tool technologies and traditional agricultural methods. This is because many farmers lack
Read articleApril 8, 2025
Why farmers need mechanization services
Smallholder farmers in Nigeria still operate within an obsolete and backward agricultural system commonly known as subsistence farming: making use of crude implements such as hoes, cutlass, and animals despite the growing demand for increase in food production The procedures and implements used in the farming system largely determine the progression level of that system. There has been a push for advanced mechanization in the Nigerian farming system. Smallholder farmers in Nigeria still operate within an obsolete and backward agricultural system
Read articleApril 8, 2025
Importance of agricultural mechanisation
Daily records show there is a high level of hunger in the country. Eating just one unbalanced meal a day is the norm for many families. The most reliant field, agriculture, yields no significant impact. FAO points out that agricultural mechanization involves three levels: human-powered sources, animal-power-based mechanization, and engine-powered machines. While many countries are at the machinery and technological stage, African countries are still at the first stage: “human powered sources”. This stage is characterized by the replacement of animate power with mechanical power from internal combustion engines or
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