Tractors, Data & The Fight For Food Security
By TINA TOLUTOPE
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR FARM MECHANISATION
Agri-Tech Firm Expands Footprint in Nigeria’s Food Economy
ORIGIN Tech Group has announced an expanded focus on agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria, describing modern farming tools as central to improving productivity, food security, and economic stability.
At a Lagos press briefing, Executive Chairman Samuel Joseph Samuel said the company’s strategy reflects years of engagement with Nigerian farmers who struggle with outdated farming practices and limited access to equipment.
Evolution of a Strategy
Samuel explained that Origin Tech’s agricultural expansion emerged organically from its automobile and logistics operations. As the firm moved across rural markets, it encountered farmers constrained by manual labour and seasonal inefficiencies.
Rather than limiting its role to vehicle assembly, the company invested in tractors and mechanised solutions, gradually building a farm support model that now targets both rural and peri-urban farming clusters.
He said the Tractorise Nigeria initiative, introduced in 2005, remains central to the company’s approach, offering shared tractor services and partnerships with cooperatives to reduce costs and expand reach.
Mechanisation, Data, and National Planning
Samuel stressed that Nigeria’s agricultural future depends on aligning private innovation with public policy. He argued that existing agricultural data, if properly deployed, could guide mechanisation planning, improve yields, and strengthen food supply chains.
He added that improving agricultural efficiency could also ease broader social challenges, including unemployment and insecurity, particularly in farming communities.
