By: Abdulmalik Adetola Lawal
Dr. Oluwatoyin Adetunji, a TAAT value chain specialist and panelist at the launch of the Young Tech Farmers (YTF) Club at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, emphasized the crucial role of technology in driving Nigeria’s agricultural sector forward.
According to her, Nigeria has the resources to feed not only its population but also the West African region and beyond. She noted that the United States, with only 2% of its population involved in agriculture, has achieved remarkable success through effective farming and agricultural systems made possible by leveraging technology.
In her words: “We can feed ourselves, we can feed the West African regions, and even feed regions beyond Africa. In the United States, we have just 2% of the population involved in agriculture, which denotes that they have good farming and agricultural systems not because of the population but because they were able to utilize the technology they have to optimize their agriculture and increase yield.”
Dr. Oluwatoyin pointed out that countries like Brazil, China, and the United States have successfully harnessed technology to boost their agricultural sectors. She emphasized that Nigeria, as the world’s largest producer of cassava, has not fully utilized its potential, citing the example of China, which controls 84% of global cassava starch production. “Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the whole world, and it does not translate to anything as we speak. Meanwhile, a country like China is controlling 84% of cassava starch in the world, and this means that we’re not utilizing the opportunity and the potential we have.”
Dr. Oluwatoyin appealed to youths to join the practice of agriculture, stressing the need for the next generation of farmers to ensure food security. She believes that with precision agriculture and other technological innovations, Nigeria can optimize its agricultural yield and become a major player in global food production.
The launch of the Young Tech Farmers (YTF) Club aims to equip students with agricultural science and animal husbandry skills, promoting a new generation of tech-savvy farmers who can drive innovation and growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
