FG Launches Intelligence Platform to Boost Food Security
0
0
FG Launches Intelligence Platform to Boost Food Security
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Agricultural Intelligence Platform (NAIP), a data-driven innovation designed to fast-track food security and reposition the country’s agricultural sector for digital transformation.
The platform, developed by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in partnership with PIXELS Solutions Limited, was launched in Abuja under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, described the initiative as “a bold and visionary step towards redefining the future of agriculture in Nigeria.”
READ ALSO: NITDA DG Seeks Collaboration, Innovation to Build AI-Ready Africa
“NAIP is not just a digital platform; it is a people-centred, future-ready transformation agenda that gives farmers the power of information and enables researchers to collaborate for greater impact,” Dabban said.
He explained that the four-year roadmap for NAIP would deploy artificial intelligence, smart tools, and digital hubs to connect farmers, researchers, and policymakers, adding that the system would strengthen productivity and efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
According to him, the initiative will help farmers access real-time information, mechanisation, and markets, while empowering youths and boosting national food production.
“We are determined to change the narrative of agriculture as mere subsistence to one of innovation, technology, and opportunity,” he said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who officially launched the platform, said the move aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to building a technology-driven agricultural economy.
Kyari noted that NAIP will complement several ongoing government programmes, including the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), the Fertilizer Quality Control Programme, and E-extension Mechanisation Support Services.
“The Agricultural Intelligence Platform will serve as a catalyst for integrating innovation, technology, and data into our food systems. It’s a practical response to the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security,” the minister said.
He commended ARCN for its proactive leadership in promoting research-to-commercialisation (R2C), stressing that the initiative reflects a shift from policy formulation to implementation.
Dignitaries at the event included government officials, private sector partners, researchers, and technology experts among others.
