AI-Powered Farming Gains Ground In Nigeria As Climate Change Threatens Agriculture

In Jos, Nigeria -With a few taps on his phone, farmer and IT analyst Dandam Nangor monitors his greenhouse’s temperature, soil pH, and irrigation schedule, thanks to artificial intelligence-driven technology.

This innovation, developed by local agri-tech company Green Eden, has boosted his pepper production by 20 percent—offering a glimpse into a potential future for Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

Farms around Jos, a city known for its favorable climate, have long supplied fresh produce to markets across the country. But erratic rainfall, a consequence of climate change, now threatens farmers who rely on traditional methods. Green Eden founder Stephanie Meltus, 21, says her start-up aims to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s booming tech industry and its rural farming communities.

The city is emerging as an agri-tech hub, with other start-ups like Anatsor developing systems to monitor poultry farm conditions.

Mercy Atsuku, a poultry farmer, says the technology has significantly reduced bird mortality by alerting her to changes in temperature, humidity, and water quality. Though the system’s $150 price tag is steep for many, she believes the investment has made her work more efficient.

Despite concerns about accessibility only 40 percent of Nigerians have internet access, with even lower rates in rural areas young entrepreneurs like Gambo Wadams Zakka are pushing for more innovation.

His proposed start-up would use AI and satellite imagery to predict pest outbreaks and market trends, sending SMS alerts to farmers.

Agronomy professor Nuhu Adamu Gworgwor warns that poor infrastructure and land degradation still pose major obstacles.

However, experienced farmers like Michael Inyam Itsegok see AI-driven solutions as a way to reduce uncertainty in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

“If you don’t have insight into what’s coming,” he says, “you’re left at the mercy of whatever happens next.”