The Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, has called on Nigerian farmers and young people to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture to improve productivity and strengthen food security across the country.
This appeal was made during the institution’s annual lecture and inter-departmental quiz competition organized by the Kites Press Club.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ademola Ajayi, Head of the Crop Production Technology Department, emphasized the need for farmers to integrate AI into their farming practices.
He was represented by Mr. Sergius Iheanacho-Nwokeji, who delivered a lecture titled “The Role of AI in Agriculture and Food Security.”
Ajayi highlighted AI’s potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector, saying the time had come for Nigerian farmers to move away from traditional manual methods and adopt smart technologies.
“Farming no longer has to be labor-intensive. With tools such as smartphones, drones, and laptops equipped with AI software, agriculture can become more efficient and productive,” he said.
He stressed that young Nigerians don’t need to abandon agriculture for technology, but rather integrate both to build smart farms and an innovative food system for the future.
“The prosperity of Nigeria depends not on what lies beneath the ground, but in empowering those who farm it with modern tools and knowledge,” he added.
Ajayi urged governments, academic institutions, private organizations, and farming communities to fully embrace technological advancement, noting that AI could help increase yields, preserve resources, promote mechanized farming, and significantly cut post-harvest losses.
“With improved production comes increased output, which leads to greater food availability and affordability. Nigeria has what it takes to lead AI-driven agriculture in Africa,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Joshua Ayantayo, Coordinator of the Kites Press Club, said the yearly quiz and lecture are designed to revive students’ interest in reading and learning, particularly around the relevance of AI in their field.
Ayantayo, a lecturer in English Language and Communication, added that six departments participated at both the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels of the competition.
“The aim is to show students that technology is crucial to their academic and professional development, and to encourage them to focus more on their education rather than chasing quick riches,” he stated.
At the end of the quiz competition, the Animal Health and Production Technology Department emerged winner at both the HND and ND levels.
Agricultural Extension and Management came second at the HND level, while Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering finished third. At the ND level, the Computer Science Department secured second place, while Fisheries Technology came third.
