NITDA’s digital supply chain initiative set to transform Nigerian small-scale farming

NIGERIA – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is spearheading a new initiative to revitalize Nigeria’s small-scale farming sector through digital supply chain solutions.

Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, emphasized the potential of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain in improving agricultural practices and food security.

Represented by Engr. Salisu Kaka, Director of the Digital Economy Department, Inuwa delivered a keynote address at the launch of the Survey on the Digitisation of Supply-Chain in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms Project in Abuja.

The project, organized by AGROVESTO, an agritech startup, in collaboration with NITDA, the Office for Nigeria Digital Innovation (ONDI), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), aims to boost smallholder farmers’ income and market opportunities.

“Agriculture employs a significant portion of Nigerians and constitutes 25.18% of the nation’s GDP,” Inuwa noted. He stressed that digitizing the supply chain could address numerous challenges faced by small-scale farmers, including high production costs, limited financing, and poor market access.

Inuwa highlighted how technologies can support agricultural advancements. AI can streamline time-consuming tasks with machine learning and predictive modeling.

IoT can monitor crops and provide real-time data, while blockchain can enhance supply chain transparency and manage disease outbreaks.

“NITDA has been actively supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector through initiatives like the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), which integrates technology into farming practices,” he said.

The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader agricultural goals, including boosting food security, increasing sector contributions to GDP, and creating jobs. Inuwa referenced a successful example from Kenya, where digitization significantly boosted small-scale farmers’ incomes.

The project also aims to improve farmers’ digital literacy, enabling them to leverage technology for better market access and reduced post-harvest losses.

Bayo Adewoye, Co-founder and CEO of AGROVESTO, provided additional details on the project’s impact. “Currently, 63.5% of small-scale farmers earn between 20,000 and 100,000 naira monthly, with 63% selling their produce in open markets. Our project is designed to enhance these figures by connecting farmers to broader markets through digital tools, increasing their bargaining power and sales,” Adewoye explained.

The next steps involve rolling out a customized digital platform for market access and onboarding cooperatives and graduates from the Small Horticulture Empowerment & Promotion (SHEP) Approach. This will be followed by ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure the project’s success.

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