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The Digital Farmer |
I walked into his Uyo office, on a warm Tuesday
afternoon, a little ahead of schedule to keep an appointment for a chat
to know him better. A sonorous and resonant voice of a radio presenter,
full of energy and passion filled the office and captured my attention:
‘’…a
training will be given to some on farm … management solutions. So we
will turn out farm…solution specialists. We have soft wares and security
solutions that can manage farms and change agriculture into an enviable
venture…. This is E-Commerce Crew on Planet Radio 101.1 fm Uyo; my name
is Nsikak Usoro’’. My host, Mr Nsikak Usoro, who is in
his late thirties was live on air training Nigerian youths and the
general public on the new focus that is taking agriculture to an
enviable height – digital agriculture.
Who is Nsikak Usoro?
Mr Nsikak Usoro is a young successful agricultural entrepreneur, a
computer scientist, a graduate of the University of Calabar, an
e-commerce consultant, a radio programme presenter, a born
horticulturist; an indigene of Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa
Ibom State. He is the state facilitator of Dream to Destination Project
and has a training outfit, Untteligs Nigeria Enterprise which focuses on
Information technology training, enterprise education, and Farms. The
enterprise with a farm of its own, is involved both in actual
agricultural production and in training.
Involvement in Commercial Agriculture
Mr Nsikak Usoro is a born horticulturist who embraced flower
propagation from childhood. However, his entry into commercial
agriculture took place a few years back when he came back to the state
in response to a call by the state government for computer scientists to
come home and support an IT project aimed at linking the thirty-one(31)
local government areas of Akwa Ibom State to the web.
He came back for
IT services but picked interest in commercial fishery and pepper
cultivation at the end of his participation in Integrated Farmers’
Scheme of the Akwa Ibom State government, Batch 6. He has participated
in and benefitted from a number of agro training programmes since then
and these include National Directorate of Employment (NDE) training, 300
Unemployed Graduates Training by Mobil Producing Nigeria, and also had
hands-on experience in the University of Uyo Farms. He is the proud
owner of Untteligs farm which focuses on fishery and fish processing.
Enthusiastic Agricultural Entrepreneur
High and self-sustaining returns brought about by the application of
new technology in agriculture keeps him fulfilled, optimistic and
excited about agriculture. Before the last administration in the state,
most Akwa Ibomites viewed agriculture as the vocation of the
underprivileged and untaught but now, according to Mr Usoro, there has
been a re-orientation. The immediate past government coined the
expression ‘Digital Farmers’, a legacy to the nation, and drummed it
into the citizens of the state that where there is a change of attitude,
many things change and one consequently, can change the nation.
Even as change of attitude is needed in the fight against corruption
in the country, same is needed in agriculture. There must be a complete
paradigm shift from traditional agricultural practices and mentality to
technologically driven agriculture in all areas of farming – production,
processing, marketing, and utilization.
For every agricultural
activity, there is a better way that eliminates drudgery and a digital
farmer, instead of abhorring farming explores such opportunity through
mechanization, use of improved seeds, fertilizer application, and
efficient farm management.
Dream to Destination Project, great Opportunity for Nigerian Youths
Nigerians have dreams but most business dreams simply end up in the
cooler -unfulfilled. Dream to Destination Project International is an
initiative, a non-governmental intervention working with entrepreneurs
to ensure that their business dreams come to reality. They offer
trainings on Enterprise Education in Agriculture, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship in Agriculture, Mentorship and the Development of
Entrepreneurs, Business Plan Writing among others.
They also provide information on current sources of funds for
agribusiness and in partnership with Aquila-Track Nigeria are providing
soft wares on farm management solutions to graduates and young school
leavers. This is a new technology coming into the country which will
enhance farm management consultancy services.
Technology increases agricultural output on a geometric progression
and consequently guarantees upsurge in marginal profit and returns on
agro investment. Discover and embrace new technological approach to
agriculture and become a part of Nigerian youths who have realized that
agriculture can be both exciting and lucrative. Be a farmer, be digital!