Millions of Nigerians struggle daily with food insecurity as a result of the alarming rate of food price increase, coupled with the imbalance between food demand and production in the country. Food inflation rose to a 17-year high of 24.61% in April 2023, further eroding the purchasing power of average Nigerians.
According to Cadre Harmonisé, a government-led and UN-supported food and nutrition study conducted 2022, about 25 million Nigerians are at risk of being hungry. Notably, armed banditry and abduction in states like Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue, and Niger, as well as ongoing insecurity in the north-eastern regions of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, have had a negative impact on farming activities and the resulting food scarcity.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also stated that extensive flooding during the 2022 rainy season destroyed over 676,000 hectares of croplands in the country, significantly affecting harvests and increasing the risk of food scarcity. Future forecasts have shown that there will be more severe weather patterns that threaten food security in the future.
In addition to the climate and security factors, structural issues in Nigeria has also limited its ability to achieve food security. Despite having a wealth of diverse and rich agro-ecological resources, Nigeria has grown to be one of highest importer of food in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The agricultural sector of the nation is plagued with low productivity, poor infrastructure, limited research and extension services, insufficient access to inputs and markets, weak institutions and governance, and environmental degradation, leading to a 0.9% contraction in the agricultural sector in Q1’2023.
Meanwhile, to address these challenges, Nigeria must embrace creative solutions that make use of technology, research, and entrepreneurship to improve food security for its expanding population. Agritech, as the name indicates is the application of data and digital technology to enhance agricultural practices and results.
Agritech can enhance food production, processing, distribution, and consumption by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, improving quality, creating value addition, and facilitating access to information, finance and markets. Some examples of agritech applications that can benefit Nigeria’s food production and distribution include:
Precision farming
This involves the practice of monitoring crop health, soil conditions, weather patterns, and insect infestations using sensors, drones, satellites, and artificial intelligence. It also involves optimizing inputs like seeds, fertilizer, water, and pesticides, and giving farmers fast and precise recommendations.
Smart irrigation
Smart irrigation controls water distribution to crops, reduces water waste, and increases water usage effectiveness by utilizing sensors, weather predictions, and mobile devices.
Digital Extension
This involves the dissemination of agronomic knowledge, training, connecting farmers with specialists, and building peer-to-peer learning networks via mobile phones, radio, the internet, and social media.
E-commerce
This relates to connecting farmers with buyers through online platforms, mobile applications, and delivery services to minimize middlemen, boost transparency, cut costs of transactions, and enhance market access.
Other areas of technological application in agriculture include using blockchain technology to record, verify transactions and improve quality assurance. Also, using genetic engineering, tissue culture and biofortification to develop improved crop varieties; enhance resistance to pests, diseases and drought; increase yield; and improve nutritional value.
Bottom line
These agritech solutions have the capability of revolutionizing Nigeria’s agricultural industry and help the in achieving its goals for food security. However, it is important to note that they also face various risks and obstacles, which include lack of regulation, bad infrastructure, talent gap, inadequate data, and lack of funding.
To address these barriers, Nigeria must create a favorable environment that promotes and facilitates agritech innovation and adoption by promoting a cooperative and coordinated effort from multiple players, including the government and the private sector,
