National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA has signed an agreement with some higher institutions to promote research and application of digital technology in farming to enhance the country food security.
The Director General, Mallam Kashufu Inuwa Abdullahi disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the agency towards promoting federal government policy on digital economy.
He explained that, the agency was currently conducting a pilot project in Jigawa state in collaboration with Federal University Dutse, University of Akure and also in Federal Capital Abuja.
According to him, deploying digital technology into agriculture will make farming a fancy business and attractive to youth, which also culminates in providing more job opportunities and strengthening the country food security.
Mallam Kashifu Inuwa pointed out that, deploying digital technology would reduce the quantity of water, fertilizer and labour required while increasing the Yield.
He said, with application of digital technology into farming , in one hecter a farmer can get yield higher than that of 10 hectares without similar technology.
The Director-General said NITDA was establishing IT centres at the communities and institutions of learning across the country as well as providing training to build the capacity of Nigerians to operate in line with federal government policy on the digital economy.
Kashifu Inuwa added that the agency was committed to collaborating with stakeholders to achieve 95 per cent digital literacy and 99 per cent broadband coverage by 2030.
COV/USMAN MZ, JIGAWA