EU, UAES expresses optimism over food sustainability, digitalization of Agriculture in Africa
BY: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.
The European Union (EU) and the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo, have expressed commitment to food sustainability and digitalization of agriculture in Nigeria and other member countries of the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS).
The Head of Cooperation for the EU delegation, Nigeria, and the ECOWAS, Mr Massimo De Luca, stated this during a field mission on the EU’s Digisol project in Owerri, Imo State.
Luca commended the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, in Imo State, for effectively collaborating with the EU to train farmers across the state.
He also applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration for their support while adding that the EU DIGISOL project would transform lives through food security.
“The EU DIGISOL project is about digital solutions and transformation of lives through food sustainability and ensuring that Nigerian farmers have the tools that they need to thrive in an era of climate change“, he stated.
Speaking, the project team leader, Mr Chris Addy-Nayo, said that the project, which has captured 100 farmers in Imo State, 200 in Kwara, and 300 in Ogun states respectively, aimed at digital production and processing as well as trade knowledge sharing.
He assured farmers of the EU’s readiness to improve agriculture through digitized processes for optimal output.
In his comment, Vice Chancellor of the UAES, Prof. Christopher Eze, expressed the institution’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action through technical education, agriculture, and human capital development, as well as food security.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Prof. Nelson Alino, thanked the EU for supporting the institution’s agro-revolution initiatives using the DIGISOL project and expressed its readiness for stronger collaborations in the overall interest of the Imo people.
The Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-government, Dr Chimezie Amadi, assured the EU of the state’s conscious decision to unite agriculture and digitalization through the harnessing of technology that can enhance market access and connect customers.
Speaking, the National Coordinator of the Fexdora Cooperative Agro Development, Mrs Ngozi Nwadike, said that with training by the UAES and the EU’s DIGISOL project, members of the cooperative could digitally monitor their farms against theft and sell their products, among other things.
According to Nwadike, the project has helped to equip farmers with technical know-how to organically fight diseases such as cassava mosaics and others.
