Photograph — Tech Nova

In this age of data, technology, and digitalization, Farmcrowdy, a leading digital agriculture platform that allows Nigerians to venture in and sponsor agriculture projects announced the launch of Nigeria’s first annual National Digital Agriculture Day.

The National Digital Agriculture day has been set aside as a day to recognize the contributions made to Nigeria’s growing agri-tech sector that provides farmers with improved seedlings, train farmers on modern farming techniques etc. It will further act as a vehicle to highlight the essential role that agriculture plays in building and maintaining a robust Nigerian economy.

Agriculture in Nigeria is still in a state that requires dedicated development to reach full capacity. The sector, unlike now, used to provide over 80 percent of export earnings and employment. Nigeria is currently seeking ways to diversify its economy, with agriculture its main leverage to achieving this feat.

Reports indicate that in 2018, GDP from Agriculture in Nigeria increased to 3.79 million Naira in the second quarter of 2018 from 3.49 million Naira in the first quarter of 2018.

Farmcrowdy since its birth in 2016 has been contributing its quota to diversifying the Nigerian economy through the Agric sector. It is effectively growing a community model that accelerates the empowerment of local farmers and the facilitation of local and Pan-African food production and sustainability.

The agri-tech company has empowered close to 8,000 farmers across ten states in the country, reared over 1,000,000 broiler birds as part of its poultry farm cycles and recorded over 17,195 farm units getting sponsorship from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

Founder and CEO of Farmcrowdy, Onyeka Akumah while speaking prior to the launch said it has been a life-changing event as they plan for the future and continue to strive towards scaling their operations and building on their platform.

“We are equally pleased to see the recent spring of startups following in Farmcrowdy’s footsteps and are looking forward to utilising the National Digital Agriculture Day in Nigeria as a chance to join hands with other agri-tech startups on the path of breathing new life into agriculture, by supporting even more smallholder farmers and increasing food production not only in Nigeria, but across Africa,” he said.

The startup has inspired a renewed interest in farming for thousands in Nigeria since its birth. This has resulted in endorsements from the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari conferring Farmcrowdy with National Honours.

Farmcrowdy has received over 20 awards in the past two years such as Agritech Startup Company of the Year 2018 at the Meet the Farmers Conference held in Dubai, and also the Digital Business of the Year in Africa 2018 earlier in the year at the annual Global African Business Awards (GABA) ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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