Prof. Simon Ortuanya VC of UNN.jpeg
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has called for government and stakeholder intervention to expand its Smart Alternate Irrigation and Drying (SAID) Project, a digital farming initiative designed to boost climate-resilient rice production.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, appealed for a two-day AgriDI-UNN workshop in Abuja, noting that the institution is ready to move from pilot implementation to large-scale adoption.
Ortuanya said the pilot phase, conducted in Enugu and Ebonyi States, equipped more than 300 farmers with dry-season irrigation techniques and smart farming skills, significantly improving yields despite climate pressures.
He urged partners, including the Federal Government and the European Union, to deepen their support, stressing that scaling the project is essential to its sustainability.
Project lead, Prof. Anthonia Achike, disclosed that UNN has developed a tested digital application to support dry-season rice farming, adding that wider adoption now depends on government and international buy-in.
Chairman of the WASCAL Governing Board, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, commended the initiative, warning that traditional farming methods cannot meet current food demands. He called for stronger security and policy backing to complement technological innovation.
