PROSPECTS OF DIGITAL AGRICULTURE IN ACHIEVEMENT OF FOOD SUFFICIENCY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Agriculture is the principal source of food and livelihood of many Nigerians. Although agriculture contributes high percentage of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria, challenges such as poor land tenure system, low level of irrigation farming, climate change, land degradation, low technology usage, high production cost and poor distribution of inputs, limited financing, high post-harvest losses and poor access to markets hinders it from producing sufficient food for the nation. The paper presents a study conducted between January and April 2024 to identify and analyze the prospects of digital agriculture in achievement of food sufficiency in Nigeria. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study. The data for the study; secondary data were obtained from researches on digital agriculture and food production in Nigeria. The findings of the study showed that digital agriculture can enable efficient use/management of land, efficient use of technologies in farming and marketing of produce, access to adequate information and sufficient finance, adequate use of inputs, reduction of effects of climate change, and post-harvest losses and ensures security of farmers, laborers, land and produce and these factors enhance productivity and ensures food sufficiency. It was recommended that digital agriculture should be adopted in order to achieve food sufficiency in Nigeria.