By Charles Pemu 
Despite the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, Nigeria continues to lag behind globally in adopting modern farming practices such as precision agriculture.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration had promised to ramp up security for farmers, invest in irrigation, and revive food commodity boards. However, insecurity persists, with farmers still under threat from armed groups and often forced to pay to access their own land.
Globally, countries like the U.S., Brazil, and the Netherlands have significantly boosted agricultural output through innovative techniques. The U.S. has seen yield increases of 22% from smart farming, while Brazil reports a 57% income rise and 97% drop in soil erosion through precision tools. The Netherlands uses robotics and AI to improve efficiency by up to 40%.
In contrast, Nigeria’s agriculture remains largely manual. Less than 1% of households own tractors, only 6% of land is irrigated, and 70% of farmers still use crude tools.
Surveys in northern Nigeria show high willingness to adopt smart tools—96% in Bauchi and 92% in Gombe—but high costs, low digital literacy, and poor access to financing remain major barriers.
National president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, said food production goals will remain out of reach unless the country embraces innovation and supports smallholder farmers with access to modern tools.
Tech experts like Jerry Olanrewaju of Jet Farms noted that tools such as mobile disease detection apps, mechanised harvesters, and digital marketing are already transforming farming but adoption is still limited due to affordability and digital gaps.
Olanrewaju stressed that inclusive solutions are key: “The government must make agri-tech tools not only available but affordable and accessible, especially for women, youth, and underserved farmers.”
With two years left to meet targets under the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Plan (NATIP), experts warn that without urgent investments in innovation, Nigeria’s food systems remain vulnerable and outdated