News in brief:
– The NADF is transforming Nigerian agriculture into a tech-driven, globally competitive sector through innovation, mechanisation, and strategic partnerships.
– Its initiatives aim to boost productivity, address challenges like the Ginger Blight epidemic, and create opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) is positioning agriculture as a goldmine of opportunities, according to its Executive Secretary, Muhammad Abu Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a convocation lecture, Ibrahim emphasised that agriculture in Nigeria is shifting from a traditional livelihood to a thriving sector driven by innovation and technology, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Abu Ibrahim outlined NADF’s mission to drive socio-economic development through inclusive financing and sustainable agricultural support. The agency’s four focus areas—inputs, mechanisation, infrastructure, and emergency response to agricultural disasters—are designed to elevate Nigerian agriculture to global standards.
“Agriculture today is a thriving playground of innovation, technology, and boundless opportunity, with drones that monitor crop health, apps that connect farmers to markets, and advanced machinery that maximises yields,” Ibrahim said, highlighting innovation. He further noted that the Fund’s initiatives aim to build a brighter future for Nigerian farmers, with significant progress already made in mechanisation, partnerships, and research.
Emergency response and mechanisation
Ibrahim shared NADF’s efforts to address the Ginger Blight epidemic, which devastated 80% of Nigeria’s ginger crop in Kaduna State, affecting 10,000 hectares and thousands of farmers. The Fund has also launched a mechanisation program in partnership with John Deere and TATA Africa Services, deploying 10,000 tractors over five years, with 2,000 units arriving this year. This initiative is expected to boost yields, create jobs, and enhance global competitiveness.
Partnerships and innovations
NADF is collaborating with partners like GIZ to develop climate-smart agriculture and with NITDA on deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as UAVs and blockchain for crop production. Regional collaborations with the DAWN Commission and others focus on priority value chains and forest regeneration.
Addressing students, Ibrahim urged them to embrace technology and innovation to create employment and solve challenges in the agricultural value chain. He encouraged them to identify areas for improvement and leverage tools like precision farming and AI for sustainable growth.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde, commended NADF’s strategies and announced new programs aimed at advancing agricultural education in Nigeria.
