The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has unveiled the updated version of its mobile application platform, NISSAGRO mobile app (version 2.0), to help researchers, scientists, and other stakeholders provide appropriate services to farmers.
The South West Zonal Coordinator of NISS, Prof. James Alabi Adediran disclosed this during a training for southwest farmers tagged: “Training The Trainers,” at the Institute of Agriculture Research & Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Zonal Coordinator explained that the app was designed to collect and analyse data, proffer solutions and give advice to farmers, extension workers, agro dealers and other stakeholders in the sector to promote good agronomic practices. Adediran added that through the app, farmers will have regular linkage with scientists and other stakeholders warehoused into the application. “ Scientists, researchers and other stakeholders will give the right services to the farmers that need them.
This will improve agricultural production and ensure food security in the country. It would also enhance the livelihood of farmers,” he stressed. Speaking on the training, he noted that it was aimed at enhancing the participation of farmers and extension workers in knowledge-driven information technology that will improve the linkage between scientists and stakeholders.
Adediran, who also advised farmers and extension workers in the region to make use of the upgraded NISSAGRO version 2.0 mobile application, said he was satisfied with the large turnout of participants. According to him, one of the mandates of the NISS is to regulate the soil science profession in the country, expressing satisfaction with the reports from states on the conduct of step-down sensitisation for other farmers and colleagues around them. His words: “If farmers do not have access to the app, they may end up in the hands of quacks who would demand money from them.
The purpose of this initiative is to ensure farmers have direct linkage with NISS, either at the headquarters in Abuja or in the Southwest region. “Secondly, they need to have adequate knowledge by updating themselves on how to use the application. They also need to use data, which farmers may not be able to get regularly because of funds, that’s why we have the extension agents, who are also knowledgeable to assist the farmers. “However, without using data, automatically you cannot access the NISSAGRO application. Most of these disadvantages automatically are not insurmountable, they require further enforcement and constant access to that application.” On the limitation of the initiative, Adediran said the literacy level in the region might pose a major challenge to its efficiency. “The few ones – those already trained are supposed to be knowledgeable enough and should be ready to assist other farmers.
That’s why we encouraged step-down training for other farmers around them through Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP), which they started after the training on the first version of the NISSAGRO app.
On her part, the Executive Director of IAR&T, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, while charging the participants to make good use of the knowledge received, said farming is no longer for the illiterate but for educated fellows, which ,she added, would lead to increased productivity. Obatolu said, “No matter how good the seed is, the soil needs to be given solid attention because farming relies on it. ” With the mobile app, we will be precise and achieve greater heights.” Remarking, the Director of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Oyo State, Mr. Moruf Razak, lauded the NISS initiative to boost farmers’ knowledge and promote mechanised and digital farming.
Razak urged participants to make the best use of the opportunity and extend the training to other farmers in their respective zones to complement the effort of the NISS.
source: https://agronigeria.ng
