Oyo State Government, on Thursday, announced the commencement of the second phase of the 50 per cent land ploughing subsidy, also known as the Tractorisation Policy, as part of its efforts to support smallholder farmers in the state in the 2025 Farming Season.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, announced this during a press briefing held at the ministry, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.
Olaleye explained that the state can also boast of having become one of the food baskets of the country, as more than 9,569 tonnes of cassava, representing about 300 trailers, were moved out of only the Ibarapa zone of the state into neighbouring states between December 2024 and March 2025.
He said the government was able to reach about 1,487 farmers directly through the programme in 2024, with about 6,090.91 acres of farmland mechanically ploughed across the state.
The commissioner stated that as a result of the policy, the state witnessed significant increases in productivity per hectare due to proper land preparation, as many small and medium-scale farmers transitioned from manual to mechanical farming methods.
He said, “The policy entails the state government paying for 50 per cent of the cost of ploughing, with the farmers only paying half the cost of the entire land they want to cultivate.
“The ministry has designated at least four extension officers to each of the 33 Local Government areas of the state, so I want to call on farmers to approach these officers, who would visit their proposed farm sites, take the measurements and send necessary information to the ministry.
“It is my pleasure to address you today on the continuation of our landmark 50 per cent Tractorisation Subsidy Programme as we prepare for the 2025 planting season. “Last year, the state, under the visionary leadership of Governor Makinde, took a bold step to revolutionise farming by introducing the 50 per cent Tractorisation Subsidy Programme.
“I am proud to report the tangible results of this initiative: A remarkable 6,090.91 acres of farmlands were mechanically ploughed across the state; 1,487 farmers directly benefited from this programme, transforming their agricultural practices. These achievements reflect the successful implementation of the governor’s vision of agricultural transformation as a pathway to economic development.
“As we commence the second phase of this program, I am pleased to announce several important developments: On April 9, the State’s Agricultural Extension Workers completed specialised training conducted by ‘Hello Tractor,’ our technical partner in this initiative. This training will equip all the extension officers with the latest knowledge and skills to better support our farmers.”
He commended the state governor, Seyi Makinde, for approving the continuation of the 50 per cent tractorisation policy, which began in 2024, noting that the policy represented the governor’s commitment to progressive and sustainable agricultural development.
“I wish to inform all farmers in the state that registration for the 2025 programme is now open. Farmers can register through Agricultural Extension Officers in all Local Government Areas, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development headquarters and the new online booking application already demonstrated.
“I call on all farmers in the state to take advantage of this opportunity. With our target to exceed last year’s achievement of 6,090.91 acres and reach even more than the 1,487 farmers who benefited previously, this administration is determined to make 2025 a breakthrough year for agriculture in the state.
“Also, in our commitment to sustainable farming practices, I am pleased to announce that we have also facilitated a “Train the Trainer” session on the downscaling of Seasonal Climate Prediction for 2025, presented by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency.
“This climate information will be crucial for our farmers to make informed decisions on planting dates, select appropriate crop varieties, implement suitable agronomic practices and mitigate climate-related risks to their farms. Our extension officers will then disseminate this valuable climate information to farmers across all agricultural zones in the state.”
The commissioner promised that the government would not relent towards ensuring that food prices continue to go down.
