The Federal Government has unveiled a mobile phone learning platform that is based on interactive voice response technology for farmers across the country through the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
The Federal Government inaugurated the NIRSAL Farmers’ Business School in collaboration with Successory Nigeria Limited and MTN Nigeria in Abuja, stating that the initiative was in line with the agency’s mandate on technical assistance to farmers.
Aliyu Abdulhameed, Managing Director, NIRSAL Plc, also mentioned that the NBFS would provide convenient training on good agricultural practices to Nigeria’s smallholders seeking enhanced access to vital information critical to the success of primary production cycles.
He mentioned that through the collaboration, the training would provide support systems that plug information gaps, boost entrepreneurial capacities and improve access to commercial finance.
Abdulhameed however stated his concerns that the platform might be too sophisticated and expensive for some rural farmers to use. The good news however is that the pre-design research and situational analyses have taken such concerns into account, hence, the product is a multi-language, offline on-the-go platform that can be accessed via any mobile phone.
He stated that the cost of subscription to the service is very minute, as parties involved in the partnership took into consideration the financial ability of farmers that will subscribe for the training.
“The platform is important to NIRSAL Plc, its owners – the CBN, the Federal Government, banks, and other investors in agricultural primary production, as it will promote the inclusion of farmers in the use of ICT and limit physical classroom engagements in line with the new normal,” Abdulhameed stated.
He further buttressed that the platform was also of great value for NIRSAL’s officials in the field who had been wading through towns, villages and bushes to perform their training and capacity building assignments.
The Chief Sales Distribution Officer of MTN Nigeria, Adekunle Adebiyi, also mentioned that the telecommunications company was a natural collaborator in initiatives that meaningfully connected, informed and educated Nigerians.
He further stated that MTN’s network connectivity in Nigeria would serve as the conduit for a continuous and cost-effective interaction between NIRSAL Plc and farmers, which would lead to improved productivity and earnings across the board.
