Joy Agwunobi
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) have joined forces in a partnership that promises to usher in a new era of innovation in Nigerian agriculture.
The collaboration, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focuses on integrating cutting-edge technologies into agricultural practices to increase productivity, optimise resource use, and develop modern solutions for the pressing challenges facing the sector today.
Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, discussed the details of the partnership when he welcomed Muhammed Abu, executive secretary of NADF, and his team to NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja. Inuwa emphasised the increasing importance of digital technology in advancing agricultural practices.
“The government has consistently shown its commitment to enhancing agriculture for food security. Today, it is impossible to discuss agricultural development without incorporating technology. This collaboration is a step toward integrating emerging technologies into agriculture, which will ultimately increase productivity across the sector,” he stated.
This came in the wake of recent data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which revealed that the agricultural sector contributed 22.61 percent to Nigeria’s GDP.
However, it grew at a modest 1.41 percent , a slight decline from the 1.50 per cent growth rate recorded in the second quarter of 2023, highlighting the need for increased innovation and technological integration to drive future growth.
During the meeting, Inuwa dwelled on NITDA’s ongoing initiatives aimed at improving agriculture through technology. These include the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) and the agency’s demonstration farm in Abuja. He noted that the agency has been working closely with universities and startups across the country to research, develop, and test new technologies on farms, showcasing their potential to improve agricultural practices.
Inuwa also shared that this year, NITDA has provided grants to startups focusing on using emerging technologies to enhance the agricultural sector, and many of these startups are now collaborating with farms to demonstrate how these innovations can directly boost productivity.
On his part, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, executive secretary of NADF, discussed the critical link between technology and agriculture, particularly as the sector faces challenges like funding shortages, climate change, and insecurity.
He noted, “Technological advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Wireless Agricultural Systems (WAV), have made a significant impact on our sector. We believe that optimising agriculture through data-driven solutions is essential for improving efficiency and addressing these challenges.”
Abu further stressed that data-backed evidence is essential for more effective resource allocation, especially as the fund aims to maximise its impact with limited resources.
“To ensure that we are doing more with less, we are deeply involved in monitoring and evaluation efforts. This will guide us in achieving our goal of increasing efficiency and maximising the use of available resources,” he stated, further expressing optimism that the partnership would lead to further collaborations, helping to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through technology.
