The federal government has announced plans to introduce Information and Communications Technology (ICT) into the agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Akinwunmi Adeshina said the government plans to distribute 10 million mobile phones free to farmers in 2013 to boost food production in the country.
According to the minister, mobile phones would be used to ensure there is no third-party interference in the distribution of subsidized fertilizers, increase transparency in delivery as well as pass across information to farmers first hand.
The minister also announced that the sum of N37 billion would be set aside to launch a major initiative aimed at developing a younger and more dynamic entrepreneurial class of farmers in the country.
Effective distribution of government subsidized fertilizers to farmers to boost food production has remained a problem over the years.
The minister said “Phones to be shared will be used to curb fraudulent activities and third party interference in the distribution of subsidized fertilizers”.
He also said “it would not be business as usual in the agricultural sector. The target now for the government is to reach out to 20million farmers between now and 2015. Already, the commercialization of cassava to produce Nigerian made food items is saving N2.4 billion every year”.
But in spite of this success; “the minister says the challenge of finance has remained a major obstacle”.
Board Member of the Rockfeller Foundation, Strive Masiyiwa said “the initiative is in partnership with international organizations. The government hopes to reduce the country’s dependency on wheat import within the next four years”.
Already the introduction of a farmer’s help line in each local government area to promote the e-wallet system for farmers to encourage production of substituted food is a major project by the government to completely diversify the country’s economy from oil.
