By Chinyere Anyanwu
With Nigeria’s tractor density at just seven per 100 km² and fewer than a quarter of its farmers benefiting from mechanised farming, the nation grapples with one of the lowest levels of agricultural mechanisation in the world.
Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains hampered by low productivity and limited mechanisation, a challenge that threatens food security and economic growth. In response, TracTrac, a forward-thinking agricultural mechanisation service provider, is leading efforts to close this gap with innovative solutions.
Through cutting-edge technology, accessible financing, and strategic partnerships, TracTrac is empowering smallholder farmers with modern mechanisation. By enhancing efficiency and boosting yields, the company is driving a transformation that promotes sustainable agriculture and strengthens Nigeria’s food production landscape.
In a recent chat with newsmen, TracTrac noted that despite agriculture being Nigeria’s economic backbone, 133 million people (63 per cent of the population) live in multidimensional poverty, with most in rural areas relying on low-productivity, subsistence farming. Only 16 per cent of smallholder farmers have access to mechanised equipment, hindered by high costs, limited financing and weak supply chains.
TracTrac, a technology-driven company founded in 2019, is changing this by deploying tractors and mechanisation services to over 135,000 farmers this year, increasing efficiency, productivity and access to sustainable farming solutions while supporting over 3,900 young Mechanisation Service Providers (MSPs).
TracTrac’s success is its TracTrac-Plus platform, a real-time digital booking system connecting farmers with MSPs, enabling real-time asset tracking, farm mapping, payment, demand aggregation and order fulfillment. This technology optimises service delivery by reducing delays, increasing mechanisation access and ensuring efficient use of resources.
“Our mission at TracTrac is to provide smallholder farmers with the tools, knowledge and financial solutions they need to succeed in a modern agricultural landscape,” said Godson Ohuruogu, CEO of TracTrac Mechanisation Services Limited. “By leveraging technology, strategic partnerships and policy advocacy, we are not just delivering mechanisation services but building a resilient ecosystem that empowers farmers for future generations.”
TracTrac also addresses gender and youth gaps in mechanisation by ensuring that 50 per cent of newly trained MSPs are women. Additionally, young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 have the resources to establish sustainable mechanisation businesses, creating new employment opportunities and fostering inclusive growth in the sector.
Beyond service delivery, TracTrac collaborates with key stakeholders, including the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Women in Mechanisation Association (WIMA), Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), and other private sector players, to advocate for mechanisation policies. These efforts aim to create an enabling environment for investment, job creation and long-term mechanisation sustainability. With mechanisation driving food security, rural employment and agricultural development, TracTrac remains committed to scaling its impact across the country and beyond.