Nigeria Advances AI in Agriculture for Better Advisory Services

The Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and various stakeholders are intensifying efforts to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled digital extension services across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains. This commitment was made during a workshop titled “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Digital Extension Across Agricultural Value Chains in Nigeria,” held on Wednesday in Abuja.

The initiative, part of the UN Joint Programme on Agri-Food System Transformation and Innovation in Nigeria (AFTI), aims to enhance farmers' access to timely agricultural advisory services. IFAD Country Director Dede Ekoue emphasized that AI-enabled digital extension is crucial for transforming Nigeria’s agrifood systems, as it tailors information to farmers based on various factors.

Dr. Kabir Yusuf, National Project Coordinator of the SAPZ Programme, noted the urgent need for AI due to the severe shortage of agricultural extension workers, with a ratio of one agent to between 5,000 and 10,000 farmers. The SAPZ programme, in collaboration with Digital Green, has launched the FarmerChat AI advisory platform in Kano and Ogun States, targeting 24,000 farmers.