No fewer than 311 smallholder farmers in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have been trained on the use of digital tools to improve farm management, access to finance, and crop production.
The training was organised by agritech company, Crop Cura, in collaboration with Dizengoff and Casava Insurance at the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Secretariat.
They had targeted 200 farmers for the activation, but the turnout rose to 311, according to the organisers.
The event brought together agricultural officials, farmer representatives, and other stakeholders, including the Director of Agriculture for the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Abolade Omidiji.
Also present were the State Chairman of the Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Lanre Kokumo, MAAN coordinator for Ado-Odo/Ota, Victor Asanbe, Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) Coordinator for Ado-Odo/Ota, Wale Ajayi, and Extension Officer for Ifo and Ado-Odo/Ota, Abiodun Obagade.
The training was conducted mainly in Yoruba to enable farmers, including those with limited formal education, to participate fully in the sessions.
Representatives of Dizengoff, identified as Friday, Omolade and Toyin, spoke to the farmers on appropriate use of agricultural inputs, fertiliser application, and crop protection.
The session also addressed soil-related challenges and the need for proper application of farm inputs to improve productivity.
Representatives of Casava Insurance, led by Jesuloba and Shina, introduced the farmers to agricultural insurance and explained how insurance could help protect farm investments against losses linked to weather and other agricultural risks.
The farmers were also given an opportunity to ask questions about crop failures, weather-related risks, and other challenges affecting their operations.
In a presentation titled, “Use your phone to farm better and get money for your farm,” Crop Cura’s Dr. Olatunbosun Soetan demonstrated ways farmers could use smartphones for agricultural activities.
He introduced farmers to the Crop Cura artificial intelligence (AI) tool, which allows users to use camera scans to identify possible crop-health problems and obtain advisory information.
The farmers were also encouraged to keep digital records of their farms, including acreage, planting dates, inputs, labour costs, harvests, and sales.
Soetan said maintaining such records could help farmers build verifiable financial profiles that may support their efforts to access credit.
He, however, stressed that AI should complement, rather than replace physical farm inspections and professional agricultural advice.
The training also featured a practical session on the Crop Cura mobile application, led by Mrs. Ebelechukwu Uvietesivwi.
Farmers used their Android phones to download and navigate the application, with facilitators and some participants assisting others during the exercise.
The organisers said the training was part of efforts to encourage the adoption of digital tools among smallholder farmers in the area.
