Bridging the gap among rural farmers.

In Nigeria, 70% of the farmers still practice subsistence agriculture and a majority of these farmers are yet to maximize yield from their farms through the practice of precise farming and organic farming practices. 

This proposal intend to work with farmers association in the Southwestern part of Nigeria to bring innovative practices involved with precise farming and organic farming to them. This will reduce to zero waste from farms as waste from one farm unit will serve as raw material input in another unit. It will allow for sustainability of their production and food security attained. 

Presently, the world's population is stated as 7.2 billion people and all of us keep feeding on natures resources. These resources are presently declared as endangered as a result of man's decision and activities, one of which is agricultural systems existing in developing countries like Nigeria. In Nigeria, the population stands about 180 million and still growing, yet, we are fed by small scale farmers with less percent of mechanized agriculture. A lot of challenges face farmers in Nigeria and these challenges gets worse as there is poor returns often times for these small scale farmers. Research have shown that these rural farmers majorly lack access to innovative practices that can bring sustainability to their production and ecological enviroment. To address stated issues, this solution proposal seeks to work with farmer's association an cooperatives in Southwestern Nigeria to bring them precise and organic farming practices, thereby agricultural wastes and pollution is controlled.

The solution will give innovative and organic farming practices information to local (rural) farmers through existing farmers association and cooperatives.The solution will send needed information through hand held devices to farmers.The process will utilize tablets, applications for hand held devices for Geographic readings and recordings, soil testing kits, calculations, crops relations for disease and pest control, composting and manuring, marketing linkages.

Directly:Subsistence farmers and farm traders

Indirectly: larger population.

Subsistence farmers will maximize returns from their farms through precise and accurate planning, attain resilient and sustainable systems safe for climate and ecology. 

Their will be increase in safe organic foods for consumption which in turn reduce cases of diseases such as cancer. Food security will be ensured.

In a bid to ensure sustainable food production for an increasing population, there is need to properly channel use resources especially from harvesting on crop field, animal production through this proposal of relating information through apps and phones to reduce unused inputs which is waste from another farm.

This solution is absolutely unique and of great importance because I have surveyed and sampled the existing systems in my region of implementation and discovered that farmers there go with "Business as usual", and have little or no access to relevant innovative practices. Eighty five percent of these farmers have little or no idea of what impact the activities they carry out on their farms on daily basis have on their immediate environment, their income and well being as a whole.

Precise farming technology-Farm management software, GIS and remote sensors, GPS phone application.

Farmers that have adopted the  farm management software has enjoyed greater decision-making ability and seen their investment pay off. They are able to run farm more efficiently, using the software to keep records, track costs, manage seasonal workers and analyse the profitability of each of her crops.

Some have learned that some of the crops they had cultivated for years were not economical and are now investigating more profitable options.

http://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1184155/

https://ag-transition.org/

https://www.accessagriculture.org/extension-and-learning

Communication with community and local leaders for farmers association and cooperatives in Southwestern Nigeria. Organize meetings and orientation for key stakeholders. This will be followed by workshop and follow up on registered farms and farmers.

Farmers are expected to put into practice knowledge attained after a short period of time. Feedback and monitoring will be ongoing through designated individuals

Farmers are expected to give observed differences after utilizing the new practices taught them.

On the long run, Farmers should record increased productivity, positive well being, and food security.

Current number : 30 farmers

In one year's time : 70 farmers

In five years: 250 farmers.

This solution will have multiplier effect on both farmers and consumers of farmers' produce and products. It is expected that the population of farmers in Oyo state will gradually adopt the practices and spread its impact in space of 2 to 5 years.

Farmers illiteracy-Technical

Reluctancy in acceptance of innovation-Cultural

Government or traditional ruler decisions - Political

Funding challenges - Financial.

Farmers illiteracy- Work with a coach for farmers.

Reluctance in acceptance of innovation - Use of demonstration techniques.

Government or traditional influence- Prior notification and communication with these authorities.

Funding Challenges - Sourcing for financial support. 

5 full time staff

 4 contract staff

We possess great communication skills, Agriculturally inclined and have acquired improved skills in agricultural field through various training and experiences, trained project manager,  technical know how and we relates with stakeholders

None

Non profit Organization- Revenue: Local support and donations, returns from investments

Costs : Staff salary, organization maintenance, projects and investments, Legal payments, transports