By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has engaged three federal universities to advance research and application of digital technology in farming to speed up actualisation of the country’s food security.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the Agency Mr Kashufu Inuwa Abdullahi while fielding questions from newsmen in Dutse, Jigawa state on the activities of the Agency to promote Federal government policy on digital economy.
The director general explained that currently the agency is conducting a pilot project in Jigawa state in collaboration with the Federal University Dutse, In Ondo state with the Federal University Akure and also University of Abuja in the Federal Capital Abuja .
According to him “Deploying Digital Technology in to agriculture will make farming a fanciful and attractive business for the youth, which will also culminate in providing more job opportunities and strengthen the country’s food security”.
Mr Abdullahi added that digital technology application in farming will reduce the quantity of water, fertilizer and labor required, while the yield will also increase.
“With application of digital technology into farming, one hectare can yield higher than 10 hectare without similar technology “
He disclosed that ,NITDA is establishing IT centers in the communities and institutions of learning across the country as well as providing training for building the capacity of Nigerians to operate inline with federal government policy on Digital Economy .
Mr Abdullahi explained further that, NITDA is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to achieve 95 percent digital literacy and 99/percent broad band coverage by 2030.