The attainment of Nigeria’s food security dream is taking a new dimension with the emergence of a mobile application platform – upgraded NISSAGRO mobile app (Version 2.0), to help researchers, scientists and other stakeholders provide appropriate services to farmers.
  
Developed by the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), the app is designed to collect and analyse data, proffer solutions and give advice to farmers, extension workers, agro dealers and other stakeholders in the sector to promote good agronomic practices.
   
According to the South West Zonal Coordinator of NISS, Prof. James Alabi Adediran, through the app, farmers will have regular linkage with scientists and other stakeholders warehoused into the application.
  
“The scientists, researchers and other stakeholders will give right services to the farmers that need them. This will improve agricultural production and ensure food security in the country. It would also enhance the livelihood of farmers.
  
To achieve the desired success, NISS organised a training for the Southwest farmers, tagged: “Training The Trainers,” aimed at enhancing the participation of farmers and extension workers in knowledge driven information technology that will improve the linkage between scientists and stakeholders.
  
During the training, held at the Institute of Agriculture Research & Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Adediran, who advised farmers and extension workers in the region to make use of the upgraded NISSAGRO version 2.0 mobile application, expressed satisfaction about the large turnout of participants.
  
He disclosed that it was one of the mandates of the NISS to regulate the soil science profession in the country, while he expressed satisfaction with the reports from states on the conduct of step down sensitisation for other farmers and colleagues around them.

Adediran said: “If farmers do not have access to the app, they may end up in the hands of quacks who would demand money from them. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure farmers have direct linkage with NISS, either at the headquarters in Abuja or in the Southwest region.
 
Secondly, they need to have adequate knowledge by updating themselves in using the application. They also need to use data, which farmers may not be able to get regularly because of funds, that’s why we have the extension agents, who are also knowledgeable to assist the farmers. However, without using data automatically, you cannot access NISSAGRO application. Most of these disadvantages automatically are not insurmountable, they require further enforcement and constant access to that application.”

He however, agreed that the literacy level in the region might be a limitation to the efficiency of the initiative. “The few ones – those already trained are supposed to be knowledgeable enough and should be ready to assist other farmers. That’s why we encouraged step-down training for other farmers around them through Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP), which they started after the training of the first version of the NISSAGRO app.  
 
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Executive Director of IAR&T, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, while charging the participants to make good use of the knowledge received, said farming is no more for the illiterate but educated fellows which according to her will bring more productivity.
 
“No matter how good the seed is, the soil needs to be given solid attention because on it the farming rely. With the mobile app, we will all be able to be precise and achieve greater height.”
 
The Director of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Oyo State, Mr. Moruf Razak, in his remarks, lauded the NISS initiative to boost the farmers’ knowledge in promoting mechanised and digital farming.
 
He however, urged the participants to make the best use of the opportunity and ensure the training is extended to other farmers in their respective zones to compliment efforts of the NISS.
 
One of the farmers, Alhaji Salihu Imam, who is the chairman of Agric Development Farmers Association and coordinator of OYSADEP Farmers Field School, thanked the NISS for upgrading the application, which according to him will enable the farmers exchange better ideas to boost food production.
 
The resource person, who is the Head of Inspectorate and Accreditation Department, NISS, Abuja, Nafiu Adewale, who took the participants through the technical use of NISSAGRO, also urged them to ensure the training is transferred to others so as to improve agricultural productions.