NewsDesk Your trusted news source
The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has sounded the alarm that Nigeria may spend a staggering $110 billion on food imports in 2025 if it fails to adopt and strengthen digital agricultural extension services.
This warning was issued by Dr. Godwin Atser, SAA’s Country Director, at the Annual Stakeholder Workshop in Abuja.
Atser emphasized that continuous spending on food imports is unsustainable, as it means exporting jobs and further affecting the economy.
He also highlighted the need to address the existing gaps in Nigeria’s agricultural extension services, urging a shift in approach.
Atser emphasized the importance of harnessing digital solutions to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector. With over 90% of Nigeria’s population using mobile phones and internet penetration growing rapidly, there is a huge opportunity to deliver timely and high-quality information to farmers, improving their livelihoods.
However to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, Atser called for:
Collaboration: Stakeholders must work together to leverage digital tools and improve agricultural productivity.
Investment in Digital Solutions: Investing in digital solutions, such as AI-driven tools, can help predict factors affecting the sector and improve decision-making.
Improved Access to Finance: Providing small-scale farmers with access to finance can help them invest in their farms and improve productivity.
Speaking on the workshop theme, Atser noted that over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s population use mobile phones, with internet penetration growing rapidly across Africa.
He stressed the need to harness these opportunities to deliver timely and high-quality information to farmers, improving their livelihoods.
“Harnessing the power of digital solutions will be a very good instrument that will help us succeed in our agricultural transformation.
“In today’s fast-changing world, digital solutions are revolutionising how we deliver our extension and advisory services.
“It entails bridging gaps, empowering stakeholders, and ensuring that critical knowledge reaches those who need it most, be it in agriculture, health, education, or business.
“Digital tools enable us to provide real-time, accessible, and data-driven support, ultimately enhancing decision-making and productivity”.
Atser also noted the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in global agriculture, stating that AI-driven tools can predict various factors affecting the sector through computer-based analysis.
He further emphasised that stakeholders must leverage digital tools to transform agriculture, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration in improving agricultural productivity.
Atser emphasized that the key to addressing the productivity challenge in agriculture and making digital solutions effective is collaboration. NAN
