Nigeria’s agricultural contradiction is as vast as its 84 million hectares of arable land, the largest in Africa. Nevertheless, the country spends $10 billion yearly on food imports, while smallholder farmers, responsible for producing 80% of the nation’s food, face challenges from climate change, pests, and losses after harvest. With 40% of perishable crops spoiling before they reach the market, the need for a technology-driven transformation is evident. Nations like China and India have successfully utilized artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to revamp their agricultural sectors. For Nigeria, embracing these technologies is not just a choice; it is essential for survival.

Global Blueprints, Local Solutions

China is leading a precision farming transformation with a clear strategy. To feed 20% of the global population using just 7% of its arable land, China has implemented IoT soil sensors in 500,000 farms, resulting in a 30% reduction in water waste and increased yields. AI-powered drones now apply pesticides with extreme accuracy, cutting chemical usage in half while doubling rice production. In Nigeria, where pests destroy 30% of crops each year, these advancements could save the country $2 billion in losses. A 2023 MIT study conducted in Shandong Province found that adopting IoT technology was associated with a 40% increase in smallholder profits, demonstrating the potential for scalability even in resource-constrained environments.

India’s technological advancements provide valuable insights as well. The e-NAM platform links 18 million farmers directly to buyers, reducing middlemen fees by 70%. AI technologies forecast locust swarms weeks ahead, preventing $300 million in annual losses. Furthermore, the Kisan Suvidha app sends localized weather alerts to 30 million farmers through their smartphones. Access to agricultural extension services in Nigeria is quite restricted. According to reports, there’s about one extension worker for every 10,000 farmers, which falls far short of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s ideal ratio of 1:500. This lack of support makes it tough for farmers to get the essential agricultural information and assistance they need, what if we brought SMS-based notification systems like Kenya’s iShamba to Nigeria? It could transform how farmers access vital information. These systems have already shown their worth by providing timely updates on agricultural practices, weather conditions, and market prices. By doing so, they empower farmers to make informed decisions and strengthen their ability to cope with climate-related challenges.

Nigeria’s Vision: Transforming Agriculture into Technology

* Smart Farming through IoT

Solar-powered soil sensors, similar to India’s Fasal IoT, can potentially transform regions like Kaduna and Benue. A recent study featured in Climate Risk Management in 2023 looked into how climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies are affecting potato yields in Nyandarua County, located in Kenya’s Rift Valley region. The results showed that using seed management technologies boosted potato yields by an impressive 61%. Additionally, practices focused on soil nutrient management and crop improvement contributed to yield increases of 50% and 41%, respectively. When combined with AI irrigation systems, such as China’s Netafim, water waste can be significantly reduced. A pilot program in Jigawa achieved a 40% reduction in water usage.

* AI-Powered Supply Chains

Collaborate with companies like India’s Ecozen to set up solar cold storage facilities in tomato-producing areas of Kano. This could lower spoilage rates from 40% to 4%, as evidenced in Rajasthan. Implementing blockchain for traceability, inspired by Kenya’s QR-coded horticultural exports, could enhance the market position of Nigerian sesame and cocoa in EU markets, increasing prices by 25%.

* Engaging Youth and Policy Change

Aim to train 500,000 young individuals as drone operators and data analysts by 2030, following the success of Rwanda’s agritech sector. Voice-activated AI solutions in Hausa and Yoruba, similar to India’s Agrowave, can help close literacy gaps. A GSMA pilot in Oyo State improved maize yields by 18% through SMS pest alerts.

Policy reforms are essential. Allocate 10% of Nigeria’s $10 billion food import budget towards agritech grants, akin to India’s SMART Farm Policy, which stimulated a 65% increase in IoT usage among small farmers. Establishing a National Agri-Data Hub, inspired by China’s Agricultural Brain, could centralize satellite and soil data to predict pest infestations with 90% accuracy, a figure validated in Brazil. Creating regulatory test zones in Lagos and Abuja, akin to Rwanda’s Kigali Innovation City, could accelerate the development of startups focused on drone-based pesticide delivery services.

The Consequences: A Nation at Risk

If action is not taken promptly, Nigeria’s food import expenses could soar to $30 billion by 2030, while rural poverty may rise to $7.515 billion annually as a result of enhanced agricultural exports and the creation of 10 million jobs through tech-driven farming. Ghana’s drone-operated cashew industry has successfully created 200,000 youth jobs a model that could be adapted for Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

Conclusion: Innovate or Perish

The evidence is clear: a Nature Sustainability study (2023) warns that without AI and IoT, Africa’s food production will fall 40% short of demand by 2030. Nigeria’s path is evident. Implement soil sensors in Enugu’s cassava fields, launch blockchain initiatives for Kebbi’s rice cooperatives, and organize coding bootcamps in Lagos. As Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, states, “Digital tools are the new hoes and tractors.”

Immediate Actions:

◦ Initiate IoT subsidies in Kaduna and Kebbi by Q1 2026.

◦ Develop local-language AI applications at Yaba’s tech hub.

◦ Allocate 10% of oil revenues towards agritech by 2026.

The cost of inaction. Recent studies indicate that around 26.5 million Nigerians are expected to experience severe food insecurity during the peak of the 2024 lean season, which is a rise from 18.6 million in late 2023. The United Nations has cautioned that, without substantial intervention, the number of Nigerians struggling with hunger could soar to 82 million by 2030, which is unimaginable. From the tomato fields of Kano to the coding workshops in Lagos, the time to incorporate technology into Nigeria’s agricultural landscape is now. Nigeria’s soil is rich with innovation potential; let’s take action now!

By Oghenefejiro Macdonald Ejime, an associate lecturer at the University of Salford