Adopting Precision Agriculture Technology in Nigeria: Towards Achieving a Sustainable Development Goals in Food Security and Mitigating Climate Change

Abstract

As postulated by Malthus human population is growing at geometric progression while the resources are growing at arithmetic progression. With this exponential population growth, the world population is predicted to reach 9.2 billion by 2050. The current unsustainable agricultural system is exposing the environment to soil degradation, erosion, frequent drought, diseases, pollution, and ultimately to climate change. The World must adopt a kind of production with minimum input and maximum output. A kind of production that is sustainable with little or no detrimental consequences to the environment. Precision agriculture or smart agriculture is the answer to this. Precision Agriculture (PA) deals with the fine-tuned management of the agricultural inputs including, seeds, fertilizers, water, pesticides, and energy to create savings on these inputs, increase yield, augment profitability and conserve the environment. PA technologies include soil mapping, variable rate application (tillage, seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, and pesticide application), yield monitoring mapping, automatic guidance, and autonomous vehicles. It is an approach to farm management that uses information technology to ensure that crops and soil receive what they need for optimum health and productivity. It allows farmers to make data -driven decisions while implementing sustainable practices that preserve natural resources. Adopting PA technologies has apparent benefits for agricultural production management, cost savings, and environmental sustainability.   The method is a game changer in the world agricultural landscape, despite the huge benefits its adoption has remained low among farmers in Nigeria despite the country’s economic size.