PROSPECTS OF DIGITAL AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA
1. Demand for farm produces are set to increase as the world’s population hits 7.8billion and is expected to rise to 9.8billion by 2050. While demand is set to grow, climate change is posing challenge to agricultural activities. Increased temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, reduced availability of water, changes in weather conditions, to mention a few, are challenges affecting farming activities and food production. As such, farmers must be innovative so as to improve productivity and meet demand.
2. The world is becoming more connected through digital technology and industries are taking advantage of digital innovation to address challenges in their sector. Many businesses make use of digital technology to make accurate decision, farmers are no exception.
3. Issues of climate change on agriculture have necessitated the adoption of digital technology to agriculture so as to provide farmers with sufficient information they need to combat these challenges and seize opportunities for growth.
4. Digital agriculture refers to “the use of new and advanced technologies, integrated into one system, to enable farmers and other stakeholders within the agriculture value chain too improve food production” (Project Breakthrough, Digital Agriculture; 2017).
5. Digital agriculture system gathers data more frequently and accurately, often taking external factors such as climate condition and weather into consideration. The combined data is analysed and interpreted, thus farmers are able to make appropriate decisions and are precise with their operations. The use of advanced machinery and robotics in farm operation also promote greater accuracy and eliminate human error. Farmers can as well get real-time feedback or measure their result.
6. Technologies such as Sensors, communication networks, Unmanned Aviation Systems (UAS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Drones, remote monitoring, Satellite imagery and electronic identification help with data measurement and storage, weather monitoring, animal monitoring, geospatial monitoring, precision and application of water and chemicals. Stored data are helpful for decision making and future farm planning and implementation. Data storage also create avenue for agriculture industries to disseminate vital information across traditional industry boundaries to open up new opportunities. Above all, digital agriculture increases productivity in the sector.
7. Despite operating majorly small scale farming with huge practice inefficiencies, giving rise to poor agricultural economy, Nigeria earned a scored seventh in Africa in the World Bank’s Enabling the Business for Agriculture (EBA), ICT index score. With the creation of more enabling digital environment, adoption of digital agriculture becomes feasible. This will not only increase food supply, but also create innovations for other industries, boost the Nation’s economy and increase job opportunities.
REFERENCES
Enabling the Business for Agriculture (EBA) report. December 2019.
Population clock; 2020. Worldmeters.
http://breakthrough.unglobalcompact.org
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