Hugh Briggs, European Union programme manager in Nigeria and West Africa, has called for affordable and accessible technological solutions to support smallholder farmers and improve agricultural productivity in the country.

Mr Briggs made the call on Monday in Abuja while assessing the state of extension services and digital agricultural tools in Nigeria.

He noted that while tech solution companies had developed several technology applications, many of them remained inaccessible to farmers and had not significantly translated into improved productivity.

Mr Briggs emphasised the need for inclusive innovation that considers the unique needs of smallholder farmers, especially those in remote areas with limited resources.

“There are a lot of companies that come to Nigeria with different applications, and they are solution-driven, but some of these applications are not affordable for local farmers.

“When farmers cannot afford these applications, they become useless to them. They do not have enough manpower in terms of extension agents to explain to them what these applications are. When they finally get information about the applications, technology is not cheap, especially in rural communities where we have the real farmers now,” Mr Briggs explained.

He added, ”They also do not have network coverage in some of those communities. Companies and agencies that are solution-driven should ensure that technology reaches local farmers in the most affordable way, in a way that can support them to improve and contribute to food security in Nigeria.”

He also criticised the insufficient number of agricultural extension workers, saying it falls short of what is needed to serve the growing population of rural farmers.

The programme manager commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its efforts to revitalise the extension system, noting that steps are being taken to strengthen both staffing and operational capacity.

“I had several engagements with the minister, and I see his vision, short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans. If fully executed, Nigeria will be on the next level,’’ he said.

Mr Briggs reiterated the importance of government investment across the agricultural value chain, from processing to production and investment in agricultural research.

“The sector requires more investment so that it can address issues around production and processing across the entire value chain.

“We also have to focus on research because it is from research that you will get all these technologies and the information that goes to local farmers. The investments are never enough; you need to put more money there so that we can achieve food security,” he said.

Mr Briggs reaffirmed the EU’s support for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and urged stronger collaboration between local and international partners in the sector. 

(NAN)