Smart Farming: The Future of Nigerian Agriculture?
Written by Olakunle Oke on June 16, 2025
Smart farming, also known as precision agriculture, has been proposed as a key solution to address food insecurity in Nigeria. This was a major takeaway from the maiden edition of the Smart Agri-Tech Summit, organized by Smart Farm Initiative. The summit’s theme, “The Future of Smart Farming: Embracing Technology for Sustainable Agriculture,” highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to boost agricultural productivity.
Farmer Lanre Badejo, Team Lead of Smart Farm Initiatives, emphasized that embracing technology can make food production more convenient and efficient. He noted that smart farming can help Nigerian farmers increase yields, reduce waste, and improve the quality of their produce.
Dr. Kolade Adebayo, the Keynote Speaker, shed more light on Nigeria’s agricultural challenges. According to him, the country doesn’t have a production problem but a productivity problem. In other words, Nigerian farmers are capable of producing enough food, but they need to adopt more efficient methods to maximize their yields. Dr. Adebayo stressed the need for farmers to adopt smart farming practices, such as using precision irrigation systems, drones, and data analytics to optimize crop management.
The summit also emphasized the importance of involving women in agriculture. Lion Dr. Folasade Shotomide, District Governor of Lions International, District 4A3, Nigeria, encouraged women’s participation in smart farming initiatives, recognizing their critical role in agricultural development.
The event concluded with a showcase of innovative smart farming projects developed by graduating students. These projects included snail, fish, and vegetable farming, demonstrating the potential of smart farming to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector. By embracing technology and smart farming practices, Nigerian farmers can increase productivity, improve food security, and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
