The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other relevant stakeholders to combat food insecurity in Nigeria.
The director-general conveyed this during a meeting with representatives from USAID, led by its senior digital advisor at the Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security, Josh Woodard, held at the agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja. The purpose of the visit was to conduct a swift assessment of digital agriculture in Nigeria and establish a partnership with NITDA.
Abdullahi stated that: “Boosting agriculture to achieve food security is one of President Tinubu’s key priorities, and at NITDA, our mandate involves developing the National IT Policy, which aims not only to advance IT but to enhance productivity across vital sectors, including agriculture.”
“That is why we are actively involved in various initiatives to explore how we can integrate IT into agriculture and make it a more appealing venture for the younger generation,” he further explained.
Abdullahi highlighted that NITDA has identified six emerging technologies that will contribute to ensuring food security in Nigeria. He mentioned, “We are currently conducting an artificial intelligence (AI) strategy co-creation workshop, initiated on Monday, to collaborate with the ecosystem in formulating a strategy for utilising AI in agriculture, healthcare, education and more.
“We are exploring the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture for tasks such as crop monitoring, soil analysis, precision irrigation, climate monitoring, livestock management and others.
“We are also leveraging Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for activities like pest detection, water management, yield evaluation and more.
“Our efforts include implementing Blockchain technology to track farm produce from cultivation to retail, maintain records, ensure quality and so on.
“We are also integrating Robotics to improve agricultural productivity through automating tasks like weeding, harvesting, operating tractors and more.
“Additionally, we are utilizing additive manufacturing to enhance the agricultural sector by producing devices for crop and soil monitoring, customized equipment and more.”
Regarding NITDA’s dedication to fostering domestic digital innovation, Abdullahi highlighted the recent launch of the Nigeria Startup Portal, with over 12,000 startups registered thus far. He mentioned that these startups would undergo categorisation, granting them access to incentives.
USAID’s Woodard emphasised that the meeting aimed to familiarise USAID with Nigeria’s digital farming initiatives to explore ways to enhance the integration of digital technology in agriculture.
He disclosed that USAID had recently introduced the Global Food Security Strategy for Nigeria (2024-2029) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He stated, “Our goal is to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure food security in Nigeria.”
The meeting delved into discussions about the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), highlighting its achievements, expansion plans, and inviting USAID to participate in these initiatives.
