This Episode is with FarmX, a digital agriculture and logistics platform, represented by its CEO and COO, Igbokwe Marvis and Adeosun Victor.

Title

• Agricultural & Livelihood Transformation through Equitable Digital Supply Chain.

Summary

This conversation delves into the critical role of digital supply chains in enhancing food security and empowering farmers. The discussion highlights the mission of FarmX, a platform designed to connect farmers directly with buyers, thereby eliminating middlemen and ensuring fair pricing. Key topics include the challenges faced by farmers, the importance of logistics in reducing costs, and the need for trust in agricultural transactions. The speakers emphasize the significance of technology in creating equitable markets and the potential for scaling agricultural innovations across Africa.

Takeaways

• Food security is crucial for both farmers and consumers.

• A transparent supply chain ensures fair pricing for farmers and consumers.

• Digital supply chains can reduce food waste and improve efficiency.

• FarmX aims to connect farmers directly with buyers, eliminating middlemen.

• Logistics is a major cost factor for farmers; efficient systems can reduce this.
• Farmers can set their own prices on the FarmX platform.
• Empowering farmers leads to better margins and sustainable practices.
• Trust is essential in agricultural transactions to prevent fraud.
• Scaling requires partnerships and a focus on infrastructure.
• The future of agriculture in Africa relies on indigenous solutions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Food Security and Supply Chain

15:10 Understanding FarmX and Its Mission

22:08 Exploring Digital Supply Chains

30:40 Addressing Challenges in Agricultural Supply Chains

34:56 Logistics and Cost Reduction Strategies

38:04 Empowering Farmers Through Direct Sales

43:11 Balancing Profitability and Equity

45:15 Technology and Value Addition for Farmers

50:59 Building Trust in Agricultural Transactions

55:58 Scaling FarmX Across Regions

01:00:13 Unique Value Proposition of FarmX

01:03:31 Creating Impact Beyond Farmers

01:10:44 Closing Remarks and Future Vision

Keywords

Food security, supply chain, digital agriculture, FarmX, logistics, farmers empowerment, technology in agriculture, transparent and equitable markets, agricultural innovation, trust ecosystem, local solutions, opportunities, national and continental impacts.

This insightful conversation was urgently held in reality a changed rainfall pattern and which constituted concern as the Nigerian food system is largely rain-dependent.

The Episode has as it is Gest, Shuqrah Umar, an agricultural professional with specialization in irrigation and many years of experience in the field.

Shuqrah leads two visionary enterprise in Nigeria -founded Sierra Alpha Resource (an irrigation system and inputs supplier for agricultural industry) and established Sierra Innovations Ltd (providing local irrigation solutions and technical services to farmer and agricultural enthusiasts).

We began this discussion assessing the rainfall realities around Nigeria and comparing with the predictions of the body charged with weather and climate predictions in the nation, NIMET (Nigerian Meteorological Agency).

While it tallied in few cases and especially for states and regions looked at -Lagos state, Kwara state, Oyo state, South West, Coastal and North Central Regions -with early rainfall onset and late ending of wet season, it was not for many others, and this informed the need for supplementary irrigation.

This irregular was determined to have deeper impacts beyond food supply but to also hunger, poverty and conflicts.

What irrigation means was addressed, termed to be artificial and human approach to providing water to plants -and for other water uses, for rearing animals, drinking, cooking, and hygiene purpose -as against a natural phenomenon, rainfall.

A proper definition helps to understand water uses and what would be required address and satisfy them.

This was the approach advised for embarking on irrigation set up; to determine water availability, uses, and then plan and develop gradually, than spontaneously implement and largely without a broader picture.

Different irrigation methods were considered, flood, basin, furrow, sprinkle, and drip, and their pros and cons to to help make informed and best decision and get productive outcome. Considering efficiency of irrigation method was advised so as not to waste resources and/or compound cost and therefore defeating part of purposes of irrigation.

Looking at the peculiar socio-economic condition of Nigerian major food producers and their inculpabilities to make costly irrigation investment, we considered connecting opportunities to challenges, innovative irrigation strategies and payment model.

We discovered that while farmers do not have adequate irrigation there were water bodies. A problem of inaccessibility to a lack and/or inadequate infrastructure was identified and thus the call for public investment to support producers.

Private sector role in sustainable irrigation model was also looked and their capacity to inject funds, provide quality managerial function were highlighted but that impatience and risk presented challenges. In tandem, the need for better risk management entail collaboration of stakeholders was emphasized.

This approach was also advised for irrigation payment model, where farming must be done as a business to not only yield bounty harvest to also impact livelihoods of farmers and thus that while farmers must pay, the payment model must consider their precarious situation and importance to the nation.

Farmers pulling resources together to lower irrigation cost and enable access, bundling, cost recovery were exploited.

We thought that it was best there was a unified approached to irrigation for this not only but also for environmental management and sustainability.

With individual farmer having to drill their own borehole to access water, the risk of pollution and water table depletion arises and increases.

Cost-effective innovative concept as rain harvesting was considered, and advised but warned it is not an absolute replacement but should serve as supplement.

Sustainable irrigation was implored to be seen as an ecosystem than mere set up and this way increases success -agronomy (climate-adaptive seeds), hardware, choices, etc.

Dive into Nigeria’s Blue Economy in this compelling podcast discourse that unpacks the nation’s vast marine resources and strategic position in the Gulf of Guinea.

Our Guest for this Episoide is Okon Eteobong Amah (The Catfishprenuer), MD/CEO PRODAVE SERVICES INTEGRATED. He is the Secretary of Akwa Ibom Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria (AKWAFFAN).

With the global Blue Economy valued at $24 trillion and with a projected annual revenue to double its current to $5.2 trillion by 2034, Nigeria has immense potential to drive economic growth and sustainability, having 853km coastline, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 200nm, a vast inland waterways resource estimated at nearly 10,000kms.Our expert panel explored critical issues, from the transformative Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to challenges in aquaculture, maritime trade, and marine biotechnology.

He tackled overfishing, port congestion, export bottlenecks, and the environmental impacts of coastal development, while spotlighting opportunities for job creation, innovation, and value chain growth across Nigeria’s nine coastal states.

From addressing the $1.2 billion fish import gap to leveraging marine resources for pharmaceuticals, this episode delivers actionable insights into Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a Blue Economy powerhouse.

Listen to this engaging discussion on sustainable strategies, policy frameworks, and the path to a thriving marine economy by 2034, and with thoughts for the environment.

This podcast is a must-listen for policymakers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and anyone passionate about Nigeria’s economic future.