By Ify Onyekwere
The National Women for Agricultural Progress and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) has signed a strategic partnership with Norcom LLC to transform agriculture in Nigeria through the innovative Survey Digital Life (SDL) platform. The partnership on the 1st of October comes just as the nation celebrates its independence and prepares for World Food Week. This development seeks to leverage digital technology in empowering women and youth in agriculture, improve food security in the country as well as promote sustainable farming practices across the country.
While representing the organization, the National Coordinator, Farmer Omolara Svensson, revealed that the partnership will be officially launched during World Food Week, a global event celebrated from October 16-18, 2024.
“The timing of this launch is particularly significant, underscoring the global and national focus on food security and agricultural advancement. This new collaboration between NWAPDI and Norcom LLC is set to reshape Nigeria’s agricultural landscape by integrating digital innovation with sustainable farming practices. The SDL platform is designed to offer real-time farm monitoring, financial inclusion through decentralized finance, and blockchain technology to ensure transparency and secure transactions” she stated.
Farmer Svensson also stated that the primary objectives of the partnership is to revolutionize the agricultural sector by equipping farmers, particularly women and youth in rural areas, with tools, training, and resources that will help them thrive in agribusiness. She emphasized that the initiative will address both immediate agricultural needs and also long-term economic empowerment, that will empower the farmers to be key contributors to Nigeria’s economic growth and food security.
NWAPDI, a women led agricultural group, committed to promoting agriculture among women and youth takes the organization further with Norcom LLC in its mission to step further by introducing advanced technologies to streamline farming practices and improve agricultural yields. The introduction of digital twin technology allows for real-time monitoring of farm activities, which will provide farmers with up-to-date data that can inform their decisions and help maximize productivity. In addition, decentralized finance solutions will make it easier for farmers to access financial resources, while blockchain technology will ensure that transactions within the agricultural value chain are transparent and secure.
Key crops such as cassava, maize, rice, soybeans, groundnuts, shea butter, and cashew will be at the center of this initiative, with the goal of increasing both the quantity and quality of production. The partnership will promote industrial farm mechanization and value addition for these crops which will ensure that Nigerian farmers have the necessary tools for healthy competition in both the international and local markets.
Norcom LLC, a leader in agricultural technology solutions, brings its expertise in digital innovation to the table. Their technologies are designed to address two of the most pressing challenges in Nigerian agriculture: data management and post-harvest waste. One of the persistent issues facing Nigerian farmers is the inability to accurately track farm outputs and manage data on land use, production size, and yields. Norcom’s technology will enable farmers to collect and analyze this data in real-time, providing valuable insights that can help reduce inefficiencies and optimize farming practices.
While highlighting the significance of the partnership, Farmer Omolara Svensson pointed that Post-harvest waste is another major challenge that the partnership aims to address in Nigeria. According to reports, a significant portion of Nigeria’s agricultural produce is lost after harvest due to inadequate storage facilities, poor processing techniques, and inefficient supply chains.
“By leveraging Norcom LLC’s advanced technologies, the partnership seeks to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure that more produce reaches the market, thus improving food security and boosting farmers’ incomes. Additionally, the initiative will focus on training programs designed to educate farmers about best practices in food processing, packaging, and distribution, further reducing wastage and adding value to Nigeria’s agricultural products” she stated.
Dion Croom, President of Norcom LLC, also emphasized the significance of the partnership, noting that it is a mutually beneficial relationship that will enhance both the technological capabilities of Nigerian farmers and the agricultural expertise of Norcom LLC.
“This collaboration is more than just a technology transfer—it is about building human capacity in the agricultural sector. By equipping farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge, the initiative ensures that they are not only beneficiaries of the technology but also active participants in driving agricultural innovation in Nigeria” he said.
Croom also stressed that this partnership is here for the long term. He further highlighted that the partnership would address critical issues like data ownership in agriculture, helping Nigeria gain control over key information such as the size of farmlands, the volume of production, and the location of farmers. This, combined with efforts to reduce post-harvest waste, will create a more efficient and transparent agricultural system in the country.
The NWAPDI and Norcom LLC partnership represents a major step forward in Nigeria’s journey toward achieving sustainable agriculture and food security. By combining cutting-edge digital technologies with a focus on empowering women and youth, the initiative promises to bring about lasting change in the agricultural sector. As the world celebrates food security and agricultural advancement during World Food Week, this partnership stands as a testament to the potential of collaboration and innovation in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape for generations to come.
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World food week this year I am monitoring events celebrating it.
And I appreciate the partnership done.