Nigeria may spend up to $110 billion on food imports in 2025 if it fails to strengthen digital agricultural extension services, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has warned.
Godwin Atser, SAA’s Country Director, raised the concern on Tuesday in Abuja during the Annual Stakeholder Workshop, themed “Transforming the Agricultural Landscape through Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services.”
Atser emphasised that extension and advisory services are essential for agricultural transformation, warning that continued food imports are unsustainable and detrimental to the economy.
“If we persist with this trend, we are essentially exporting jobs, which will further weaken our economy,” he said.
He further warned that low agricultural productivity, coupled with rising food imports, could be worsened by climate change.
Call for urgent intervention
Atser urged stakeholders to take immediate action to bridge the gaps in Nigeria’s agricultural extension services, stressing the need for a strategic shift. He noted that despite the presence of innovations capable of revolutionising agriculture, the country’s extension system remains weak.
“In some states, extension services are completely absent. We have observed that economies making significant strides in agricultural transformation prioritise technology transfer,” he said.
Digital solutions for agricultural growth
Speaking on the workshop theme, Atser highlighted that over 90% of Nigerians own mobile phones, with internet access expanding rapidly across Africa. He stressed the importance of leveraging digital tools to provide farmers with timely and high-quality information.
“Utilising digital solutions will be a crucial tool for driving agricultural transformation. Digital tools allow us to offer real-time, accessible, and data-driven support, ultimately enhancing decision-making and productivity,” he stated.
Atser also pointed out the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in global agriculture, noting that AI-driven tools can analyse data to predict various factors affecting the sector.
He emphasised that collaboration among stakeholders is essential to improving agricultural productivity and making digital solutions effective.
“The key to overcoming agricultural productivity challenges and maximising digital solutions lies in collaboration,” he concluded.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
