The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has called for the application of science and technology in agricultural production to ensure food security, the provision of employment, and sustainable development of the sector.
The Director of Agriculture Biotechnology at NABDA, Dr. Rose Gidado, made this call while speaking with journalists and noted that technology is something that is based on science, and science is evidence-based, adding that the future of Nigerian agriculture with technology will be great.
NABDA is one of the organizations in Nigeria that is aimed at conducting, promoting, coordinating, and deploying cutting-edge biotechnology research and development activities in Nigeria.
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Speaking further, she highlighted that technology holds a very great promise because it evolves and new and emerging tools come up every time to make things easy to create, to get more productivity, and to address all the challenges.
She also lamented that the slow rush of technology adoption in Nigeria’s agriculture is caused by ignorance, misunderstanding, and distortion of scientific facts because of a lack of trust and understanding of science.
“Some due to lack of understanding, some due to trade issues, are seeing this technology as a threat; some who are traditionalists are still in the era of using hoes and cutlasses; meanwhile, the world has moved forward, using mechanization and technology to take agriculture to an enviable position, making it a business.
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“But here in Africa, the adoption rate has been low because policymakers are inundated with contradictory information on the technology. Some people see the technology as a threat to their businesses because the technology reduces the cost of production,” she added.
She then assured that the government and scientists will also measure up in terms of bringing understanding, sharing knowledge, experiences, information, and dissemination, which will help to douse the noise of anti-technology.
