Agricultural Mechanisation Policy Implementation and Its Effects on Smallholder Productivity in Nigeria

This study examines the implementation of Nigeria's agricultural mechanisation policy and its effects on smallholder farmer productivity, assessing the gap between policy intentions and field-level outcomes. Nigeria has developed several mechanisation policy frameworks including the Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, which commit to expanding tractor services, equipment supply chains, and operator training. However, the translation of these commitments into measurable smallholder productivity improvements has been uneven. This study uses a policy implementation analysis methodology, reviewing mechanisation policy documents from 2019 to 2024 and assessing implementation fidelity across six states representing all geopolitical zones. Implementation data are collected from state mechanisation committees, ADP tractor hire records, and a survey of 180 smallholder farmers. Productivity outcomes are assessed using yield data and operational efficiency measures. Findings reveal that mechanisation policy targets for tractor-to-farmer ratios have been missed by an average of 67 percent across sampled states. Budget allocation for mechanisation is consistently below policy commitment levels. Tractor service access has improved modestly since 2019 but remains concentrated in peri-urban areas. Smallholder farmers with tractor access show 22 percent higher crop yields than non-access farmers. The study concludes that mechanisation policy implementation in Nigeria is significantly behind commitment. It recommends an independent mechanisation policy performance monitoring system and private sector partnership model for service delivery.

Keywords: mechanisation policy, smallholder productivity, Nigeria, tractor services, policy implementation.