Communications minister urges farmers to adopt AI, digital tools to boost food production

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has called on Nigerian farmers to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to improve food production, reduce costs, and strengthen national food security.

Speaking on Thursday at the Ogun Tech Forward Innovation & Startups Roundtable in Abeokuta, Tijani emphasized that integrating technology into agriculture is essential for Nigeria’s future. He pointed out that despite the country’s vast arable land and large population, traditional farming methods alone are no longer sufficient.

“Without technology, Nigeria cannot practise agriculture effectively,” the minister said. “The cost of food keeps rising, and unless we bring innovation into the sector, we will continue to import food we can easily produce.”

Tijani highlighted tools such as mobile applications, sensors, and drones as game-changers in modern agriculture, offering farmers real-time insights on crop monitoring, pest control, soil quality, and more. These technologies, he said, would enable precision farming, higher yields, and improved profitability.

He urged Ogun State and other subnational governments to prioritise tech adoption in agriculture, noting that digital innovation already contributes up to 18% of national development, with a goal to increase this to 21%.

Tijani also encouraged the local tech community to leverage innovation hubs to create job opportunities for youths and deepen digital inclusion in the state.

Earlier, President of the Ogun Tech Community, Durosinmi Adekunle, said the roundtable reflected the group’s belief in collaborative progress between government, businesses, academia, and the tech sector. He reaffirmed their commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive, and resilient technology ecosystem in the state.