The Tractor Owners & Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN) has raised concerns about the extremely limited adoption of mechanised farming equipment across the country. According to TOHFAN's chairman, Alhaji Danladi Garba, the mechanisation landscape in Nigeria is heavily skewed toward manual labour methods.
The breakdown of farming practices reveals a stark divide. A majority of Nigerian farmers — 65 percent — rely on traditional hand tools like hoes and cutlasses. Another 25 percent depend on animal-powered draught systems, leaving only 10 percent with access to tractors. Garba directly attributed this disparity to Nigeria's ongoing food security challenges: "With these indices, you can see why we suffer food insecurity in Nigeria."
TOHFAN's establishment in 2003 was prompted by recognition of this critical infrastructure gap. The organisation operates as a private-sector alternative to government-driven approaches. Garba explained that private management proves more effective than state intervention, as government initiatives typically fail to maintain the necessary support systems.
He noted that equipment provided through government schemes frequently becomes inoperable within months due to the absence of proper hiring infrastructure and maintenance networks — a reality that necessitates the private-sector-led value chain approach that TOHFAN champions.
