The Federal Government of Nigeria says it has inked a deal with a Kenyan tech firm under a new partnership to embrace agricultural technology (agritech) innovation.
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, who announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal government organ, the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and FLUX Carbon Pte Ltd, a Kenyan climate-tech company dedicated to carbon dioxide removal and improvement of soil health to ensure transformative agricultural practices.
The signed MOU focuses on how Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) technology can be applied in key regions in Nigeria. ERW accelerates natural weathering processes to capture carbon dioxide, enhance soil fertility, and improve agricultural productivity. This technology has shown success in East Africa and is expected to help boost crop yields, improve soil health and enhance climate resilience for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, according to the Minister.
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, who announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal government organ, the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and FLUX Carbon Pte Ltd, a Kenyan climate-tech company dedicated to carbon dioxide removal and improvement of soil health to ensure transformative agricultural practices.
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology.
Flux Carbon Pte Ltd will apply the usage of advanced technologies to achieve these results. The technology includes GPS trackers for calculating life-cycle emissions, satellite imagery for activity verification, tractor telematics for exact tractors and GPS mapping, and digital onboarding tools, which are used to educate smallholder farmers.
According to the the Minister, the partnership shows Nigeria’s commitment to innovative agricultural technologies to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers and position the country as a leader in climate-smart agriculture.
According to Nnaji, “focusing on sustainable agriculture will not only address immediate food security needs but will also drive economic development in line with our dear president, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.” He notes that agriculture contributes 25% to Nigeria’s GDP and provides livelihoods for over 70% of the Nigerian population, which makes this partnership a necessity.
He went further to extend gratitude to Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director General of the NBRDA for, “their ongoing efforts toward food security and sustainable agriculture through technology adoption.”
NBRDA is a federal government agency dedicated to research and the promotion of sustainable and profitable development in biotechnology. It focuses on areas such as food, health, and other strategic sectors to improve Nigeria’s self-reliance in biotechnology products and services.
The Minister underscores the need to keep collaborating and innovating to drive technological change and achieve economic prosperity and social well-being in Nigeria.
By implementing the use of the ERW technology, according to the Ministry, Nigeria is not only advancing its agricultural sector but also setting an example for future innovations in climate-smart agriculture. It also gives Nigeria the potential to attract international organisations like the International Agriculture Development (IFAD), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) along with others.
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