Nigeria is encouraging agro tech development and youth-centric agribusiness to enhance food security, productivity and sustainable agricultural development.

Nigeria is centralizing young innovators in transforming its agriculture industry by utilizing agro tech to drive increased productivity, food security, and the economy. Addressing the World Food Forum (WFF) Ni Chapter Side Event in Rome, the Agriculture Minister Senator, Abubakar Kyari, underlined the idea of youth contribution to developing a tech-enabled, commercially viable agricultural ecosystem.

The government is propagating agro tech under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which includes soilless farming, drone farming, and biofortified crops. As noted by Kyari, it is imperative to facilitate the resources and finance access of young agripreneurs to expand innovative solutions.

The government has also operationalized the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and recapitalized the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) with N1.5 trillion with the aim of enhancing access to low-cost finance by the youth and women-led agribusinesses and also to strengthen the agro tech sector in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the greatest mechanization initiative in the history of the country, comprising 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 implements, will promote an increase in productivity and the provision of job opportunities in agribusiness.

Kyari complimented young innovators such as Samson Oxbole, Femi Adekoya, Atinuke Lebile, and Azeez Salawu on working to modernize agro tech, and Abdulsalam Umar of Matura Agro, who was working to cultivate large amounts of alfalfa grass to export.

Youth empowerment, financing, and adoption of technology in Nigeria are ways through which the country is establishing an agricultural industry that is resilient, innovative in its approach, and provides both food security and economic growth.