PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA: THE IMPACT OF AI ON FARMING PRACTICES AND SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Nigeria, a prominent global producer of diverse crops, confronts persistent challenges in meeting domestic agricultural demands, despite government and development partner interventions. This paper delves into the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture as a potential solution to enhance food production, addressing the escalating predicaments faced by the agricultural sector in Nigeria. The agricultural landscape of Nigeria encompasses essential crops such as cocoa, palm oil, rice, cassava, maize, guinea corn, yam, beans, and millets, complemented by a substantial livestock population consisting of goats, sheep, cattle, and poultry. However, these endeavors are beleaguered by multifaceted challenges including disease outbreaks, pest infestations, water scarcity, inadequate drainage systems, labor scarcity, and a technology divide between farmers and innovation. Contributing to this landscape are hindrances like limited financial access, climate change ramifications, land degradation, and fragmented market accessibility. Additionally, Nigeria's projected population surge to exceed 400 million by 2050 underscores the pressing need for substantial food production enhancement.

Historically, attempts at augmenting food production have centered on expanding cultivated lands and intensifying fertilizer and irrigation use, alongside reducing pre-harvest, harvest, processing, and distribution losses. However, this trajectory poses threats such as soil depletion, water scarcity, deforestation, and elevated greenhouse gas emissions. To counterbalance these adverse effects, the incorporation of AI-driven precision farming emerges as a transformative solution. The convergence of AI technologies with agricultural practices offers innovative avenues for improving productivity, resource utilization, and sustainability. This paper examines the diverse applications of AI