Stakeholders have called on rural farmers to adopt digital technology to drive modern farming practices for higher productivity and food security in Nigeria.
At the unveiling of Trecco, a digital agriculture platform in Abuja yesterday, Emmanuel Abuhson, CEO of Trecco Agro Services Limited, stressed the importance of financial and digital inclusion for small-scale farmers.
“This initiative is designed to support farmers, particularly those who are financially and digitally excluded,” Abuhson stated. “Our goal is simple: to empower rural farmers with access to banking services, digital bookkeeping, and e-commerce ventures.”
He said that underfunding and poor access to markets weaken a significant portion of Nigeria’s food supply chain.
“Many farmers have no credit ratings because their transactions are cash-based and undocumented,” he said. “We aim to solve this by offering effective bookkeeping tools and digital platforms to help farmers build credit scores and access funding.”
According to Abuhson, Trecco is developing digital solutions tailored for Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem. These solutions will ensure that farmers in remote areas can access financial services and essential knowledge for growth.
“We’re working with multiple stakeholders and partnering with agricultural extension service workers to ensure that knowledge drives agriculture, not just experience,” he added. “Technology and mechanisation are not threats to jobs – they are tools to boost productivity and profitability.”
He explained that Trecco’s digital platform is designed to help smallholder farmers and agribusiness operators navigate the complexities of modern agriculture and achieve sustainable growth.
In his remarks, founder Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD) Amb. Dr. Hilary Akpua describe the Trecco app platform initiatives as a laudable development not just for Nigerians farmers but for the entire Africa.
Amb. Akpua called on the government and development partners to support the projects and achieved a foods sufficient in the country.
Trecco give us hope,” he said. “Nigeria has long been known for agricultural excellence from maize to yams to berries not just in West Africa, but across Central Africa.”
He urged young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture, noting that the sector holds vast potential not only in production but also in processing, logistics, and business development.
“Agriculture is a broad field. It offers more than just farming it provides income generation and job creation. Young people must explore its possibilities and benefit from them.”
Dr. Amiso Solomon, executive director at Trecco, said the platform was created to provide farmers with access to funding, markets, and storage facilities.
“Many farmers are discouraged today because of poor market access, lack of storage, and insufficient funds. Trecco is here to change that,” Solomon said. “For the first time, smallholder farmers will make profits and be encouraged to remain in agriculture.”
In his remarks, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu Wambai Wakilin Rayar Zauzau emphasized that agriculture has always been the backbone of Nigeria’s economy even before the oil and gas era.
“It is unfortunate that the sector has been neglected despite its potential. But we are still surviving.
