Nigeria's Agriculture and Technology Use: Current Structure and Challenges

Abstract

Nigeria's agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the economy. It employs not less than 70% of the labour force and contributes to improving food security. However, the agricultural sector faces a series of challenges, including poor and inefficient use of technology. This research reviewed the literature on Nigeria's agricultural sector and farmers' use of technology. It analysed the current behavioural responses of the farmers to technology applications and programmes that target technology adoption in Nigeria, thereby describing one of the successful agricultural programmes in Nigeria and the procedural steps followed in executing the programme. The findings show that Nigeria has a low investment in agricultural technology. Nigeria has rich agricultural potential yet to be fully explored or exploited, with 77% of the country's land mass being arable. Evidence shows that Nigeria's agricultural sector leans more toward smallholder farming, with not less than 70% of farmers falling under this category. Smallholders produce 80% of the local stable foods. Most Nigerian farmers lagged in using technologies, with not more than 1% of all the farming households owning tractors and more than 70% of the farmers depending on crude implements. Reports on irrigation use show that not more than 6% of the arable land is irrigated. Information technology has not significantly impacted Nigeria's agricultural sector because many farmers have not used modern information communication technology (ICT) in their agricultural activities. Nigeria's agriculture growth is below the level required to reduce poverty and food insecurity. For instance, the released 2024 food security statistics reveal that 79% of Nigerians live in one form of food insecurity crisis or the other, of which 20% are plunged into severe food insecurity and 59% wallow in moderate food insecurity. Nigeria's agricultural sector value-added per capita rose less than 1% annually for over a decade (not less than 20 years). However, the trend in technology adoption is changing in Nigeria, with many farmers expressing willingness to pay for technology adoption. There is more market for hiring technology services. This research recommends that the government should critically evaluate its policies before implementation, as these could positively or negatively hamper the growth of the agricultural sector. Entrepreneurial market-driven hired technology services that would promote the efficient use of technology should be encouraged.