The Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, has called on farmers and youths to adopt and utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost agriculture and enhance food security in the country.
Dr Ademola Ajayi, Head of Department, Crop Production Technology, FECA, made the call on Wednesday in Akure during an annual lecture and inter-department quiz organised by the Kites Press Club of the institution.
Ajayi, represented by Mr Sergius Iheanacho-Nwokeji, delivered a lecture with the theme “The Role of AI In Agriculture and Food Security”.
He said the adoption of AI skills would enable farmers to practice agriculture seamlessly.
According to him, AI offers transformative potential to address agriculture challenges and enhance food security, so Nigerian farmers should not left behind.
“Gone are the days when agriculture is being practiced manually without any tools for farmers to maximise their resources in the field.
“And as farmers and youths, your phones, drones and laptops with the AI tools will enable you to practice more friendly agriculture and have more friendly production and output.
“Our youths don’t have to leave agriculture behind to enter tech, youths can build Nigeria’s next generation of smart farms and food system.
“Therefore, the future of Nigeria’s prosperity lies not beneath the ground, but on top of it- in the hands of those we equip to farm, lead and innovate,” Ajayi said.
He, therefore, called on all governments, academia, private sector and farming communities to key into AI because technology had became imperative to address food security in the country.
According to the department head, adoption and utilisation of AI will boost productivity, protect resources, expand mechanisation and reduce food loss.
“If the production is enhanced, there will be maximum yield and from the yield, there will be maximum output and food will be available and also affordable.
“So, the journey begins now. With the right approach, Nigeria can become a leader in AI-powered agriculture in Africa,” he said.
Also, Dr Joshua Ayantayo, Coordinator, FECA kits press club, said that the yearly quiz and lecture was to rekindle the spirit of learning and reading in students
According to him, both programmes would also sensitise students on the relevance of AI in their field.
Ayantayo, an English language and Communication Lecturer, General Studies Department, FECA, said that six departments each participated in the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, respectively.
“The lecture and quiz were organised to sensitise students on the relevance of technology to their field and to let them realize that education is the master key to greatness.
“It is also to make them focus more on their education rather than focusing on the ‘get rich quick’ perspective,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the department of animal health and production technology came first; agricultural extension and management department came second.
Agricultural and bio-environmental engineering department came third in the HND level.
At ND level, the department of animal health and production technology came first; Computer science department came second, while fisheries technology department came third position.
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