Struggling farms, fields in Nigeria get lifeline as farmers bring in AI monitors

In Nigeria, agri-tech innovations backed by AI are revolutionizing farming practices to combat climate change and boost productivity.

With a few taps on his phone, Dandam Nangor, 34, knows exactly what temperature his greenhouse is at, when to water his crops, and even the acidic levels of the soil.

Backed by artificial intelligence, it is all designed to make growing his peppers easier — and perhaps usher in a sort of agriculture 2.0 in Nigeria, where millions from subsistence farmers to, increasingly, young tech workers depends on the sector.

With probes in the soil collecting data, processed by local agri-tech local company Green Eden and sent to his phone, “my production has increased (by) about 400 kilograms,” or 20%, Mr. Nangor, who is also an IT analyst, said during a visit to his greenhouse in Jos.

Farms around the Plateau State capital, sitting at 1,200 metres above sea level and known for its mild climate, have long fed the nation, with their fruits and vegetables ending up in markets across Nigeria.

But they have not been spared from climate change, as increasingly erratic rainfall threatens farmers across west Africa, the majority of whom are smallholders who operate without irrigation.

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The stakes are high for the whole country: some 20% of Nigeria’s GDP comes from agriculture.