By Boluwatife Adedokun
Technology has revolutionized agriculture globally, offering solutions that promise increased yields, improved efficiency, and climate resilience. But in Nigeria, where smallholder farmers contribute over 80% of the nation’s food supply, many still struggle to embrace these innovations. While agritech solutions such as precision farming, mobile advisory services, digital marketplaces, and AI-driven soil analysis hold promise, their adoption remains slow and uneven.
High costs, infrastructure deficits, and low digital literacy continue to make agritech inaccessible to the very farmers who need it most. Without targeted interventions, the country risks widening the productivity gap between large-scale agribusinesses and rural smallholders, many of whom already operate on razor-thin profit margins.
The Price of Progress: Why Farmers Can’t Afford Agritech
For many smallholder farmers, agritech remains a luxury they cannot afford. Tools such as drones for precision agriculture, automated irrigation systems, and AI-based soil monitoring come at prohibitive costs.
According to a 2023 report by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), a basic agricultural drone costs between ₦500,000 and ₦2 million ($600–$2,400), a price tag well beyond the reach of most rural farmers.
Meanwhile, smart irrigation systems, which could help mitigate the impacts of erratic rainfall, require an initial investment of at least ₦1 million ($1,200)—excluding maintenance costs.
Even lower-cost agritech solutions, such as mobile advisory services that provide weather forecasts and market price updates, often come with subscription fees.
The World Bank’s 2022 Nigeria Digital Economy Diagnostic Report found that only 36% of Nigerians own smartphones, further limiting access to digital services that could enhance farm productivity.
Weak Infrastructure: The Missing Link in Agritech Adoption
Beyond affordability, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficits make agritech adoption nearly impossible in many rural areas. Reliable electricity and internet access—two essential components for most digital agricultural solutions—are largely absent.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported that broadband penetration in rural areas remains below 50%, making it difficult for farmers to use cloud-based agritech solutions or access real-time market data.
Power supply is another major barrier. Many agritech devices, such as smart irrigation systems and weather monitoring stations, rely on electricity to function.
However, according to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), only 41% of rural Nigeria has access to reliable electricity, forcing many farmers to depend on costly petrol generators, further increasing their production expenses.
Storage and transportation infrastructure also remain major concerns.
A 2023 study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) found that over 40% of post-harvest losses in Nigeria result from inadequate storage and poor road networks, highlighting the need for complementary infrastructure investments alongside agritech innovations.
Low Digital Literacy: A Silent but Critical Barrier
Even when digital tools are available, many smallholder farmers struggle to use them due to low digital literacy. Many agritech solutions require users to analyze complex data, interact with mobile apps, or operate automated farm equipment—skills that are often lacking among older, rural farmers.
According to the GSMA Mobile Economy Report 2023, only 20% of Nigerian farmers have used mobile-based agricultural services, largely due to a lack of awareness and difficulty navigating digital platforms.
The challenge is not just access but also trust. Many farmers remain skeptical about agritech tools due to limited exposure and cultural resistance.
A 2023 study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that many Nigerian farmers still prefer traditional farming methods over digital solutions, fearing that reliance on technology could lead to job losses or exploitation by agribusiness corporations.
Bridging the Gap: What Needs to Change?
Addressing these barriers requires a multi-faceted approach involving government policies, private sector investment, and targeted training programs.
Experts and stakeholders suggest the following:
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Affordable Financing Models – The government and financial institutions must offer subsidized loans and leasing options to make agritech tools accessible to smallholder farmers. This could be modeled after Kenya’s M-Kopa program, which provides farmers with pay-as-you-go solar-powered irrigation systems.
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Expanding Rural Internet Access – Telecom companies and policymakers should prioritize rural broadband expansion under Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan to improve digital access.
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Farmer-Focused Digital Training Programs – NGOs and agritech firms must invest in simplified training programs, ensuring that farmers understand how to use digital tools effectively.
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Public-Private Partnerships – Collaboration between the government and private agritech firms can drive cost reductions and localized innovations that cater specifically to smallholder farmers.
Agritech has the potential to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector, but without addressing cost, infrastructure, and digital literacy barriers, smallholder farmers—the backbone of the nation’s food production—risk being left behind.
The government, private sector, and development agencies must work together to create a more inclusive and supportive agritech ecosystem that allows smallholder farmers to harness technology for sustainable growth and resilience. Only then can Nigeria truly achieve its vision of agricultural transformation in the face of climate change and food insecurity.
