NIGERIA – The Commonwealth of Learning (COL), in partnership with Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) has trained over 70 vegetable farmers in Osun on digital agricultural solutions.
Conducted recently at OAU, Ile-Ife, the Training and Capacity Development Workshop centered on ‘Scaling-up Lifelong Learning for Farmers on Digital Agricultural Solution for Vegetable Farmers in Southwest Nigeria Towards Achieving the SDG Goals.’
Representing Simeon Bamire, the vice-chancellor, Akanni Akinyemi, OAU’s deputy vice-chancellor of research and innovation development, emphasized the pivotal role of innovation, technology, and science in advancing agriculture for optimum benefits.
“The essence of the training was to harness science, technology, and innovation to drive agriculture towards achieving food sufficiency,” Akinyemi stated.
At the workshop, Peter Popoola, ARMTI’s assistant director, advocated for cohesive efforts among vegetable farmers, urging them to unify as a cooperative society to enhance their progress in aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Popoola highlighted the initiative’s aim to promote digital cooperative formations, enabling farmers to leverage information and technology platforms for seed selection, pest management, and overall food security enhancement.
“By fostering a digital platform for vegetable farmers, we enable networking, discussions on challenges, and subsequent expert-provided solutions,” he explained, emphasizing the pivotal role of technology in modern agriculture, particularly for the younger generation.
Nigeria’s agriculture sector is set to advance substantially both in quantity and quality thanks to the inclusion of technology in the sector.
For instance, Nigerian agricultural experts recently proposed integrating agricultural biotechnology to enhance productivity, noting its potential to transform the country’s agricultural landscape during an interactive session in Lagos.
Rose Gidado, director of the agricultural biotechnology department at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), highlighted the untapped potential of agricultural biotechnology.
“Biotechnology offers new tools for increasing agricultural productivity and protecting food crops from climate changes such as heat, floods and drought,” said Gidado
The session underscored the importance of embracing new technologies to bolster Nigeria’s agricultural sector, offering sustainable solutions to diversify the economy, generate employment, and foster substantial economic growth.
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