The federal government and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are driving efforts to establish the Nigeria Agri-Innovation and Digital Agriculture platform, a robust infrastructure that will aid actors in digitising agricultural value chains.
To ensure sustained, transformative impact, the platform employs a collaborative ecosystem co-creation approach that includes both public and corporate partners.
During the recent launch of the FAO Digital Village initiative in Lagos, stakeholders discussed the key issues facing sustainable agricultural production and livelihoods, including post-harvest losses, workforce re-skilling, the lack of verified farm and farmer data, and the incubation and acceleration of agricultural enterprises.
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The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emphasised that the initiative aligns perfectly with the government’s unwavering commitment to leveraging digital tools to foster transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s agrifood systems.
He described the event as a bold step toward the establishment of the National Integrated Digital Agriculture Platform (NIDAP) that would “serve as the digital nervous system that links all actors and activities across the agricultural value chains, including farmers, farms, inputs, climate, funding, commodities, research, processors, aggregators, transporters, retailers, and consumers.”
“We will work closely with state governments, local communities, the private sector, research institutions, and farmer-based organisations to ensure that this platform is people-centred, locally owned, and fit for purpose,” Senator Kyari stated.
The Nigerian agricultural sector is at a crossroads, urgently requiring modernisation across the entire value chain to secure the nation’s food and nutrition needs.
The FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, explained the FAO Director General’s vision to support actors across the agricultural value chains through innovative technologies worldwide.
He emphasized that the Digital Village Initiative (DVI) aligns with the government’s vision to digitally transform the country’s agrifood systems.
“We have the shared vision to optimize resources, improve market access, strengthen supply chains, and equip farmers with essential digital skills. Through data analytics, precision agriculture, smart farming techniques, and mobile solutions, we will boost productivity, minimise waste, and build resilience against climate change”, Mr. Kouacou said.
The prospects of youth involvement
Speaking on harnessing ICT for Development for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, Professor Francisca Oladipo, Vice Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University Oko, discussed the quick-win solutions that ensure “middlemen are eliminated, and farmers are connected directly to the buyers, and also having access to digital lending platforms.”
She added that “digital agribusiness hubs encourage youth participation, making agriculture more innovative and sustainable.”
Professor Faith Ibrahim, from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, emphasised the need to leverage Nigeria’s youth population for the initiative to succeed.
She reiterated that “the youths of today are tech-driven; with the platform for digital agriculture available, we would see a drive in acceptance among the youths and the desire to be part of this new perspective in agriculture—the tech perspective.”
On his part, Professor Olumiyiwa Jayeoba, President of the Association of Deans of Faculties of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities reiterated that “we need to use what attract them. They are engrossed in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, so the best way to catch them and have them involved in the transformation of agriculture is through digital innovations.”
Other speakers, like Dr. Mustapha Popoola, Project Lead, highlighted the adoption of the “Skillnnovate” models to enhance workforce skills in the agrifood sector, drive human capital innovation, and establish incubation programmes for new ventures and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).
The initiative seeks to unite stakeholders for seamless implementation, sustainability and effective platform usability.
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