UNN Pushes for Digital Rice Farming Revolution with Smart Alternate Irrigation and Drying (SAID) Project
Nigeria’s agricultural sector is on the brink of a technological leap — one driven not by billion-dollar agritech firms abroad, but by home-grown innovation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). At a two-day digital agriculture workshop in Abuja, UNN called for renewed government and stakeholder intervention to scale its Smart Alternate Irrigation and Drying (SAID) Project, a pioneering digital solution designed to revolutionise rice farming across the country.
The SAID project, developed under the AgriDI-UNN Digital Innovation initiative, represents a bold shift toward climate-smart, digitally enhanced agriculture, offering a clear pathway to improving yields, strengthening food systems, and empowering smallholder farmers.
A Transition Moment: From Pilot Success to National Adoption
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya framed the event not as a closing ceremony but as a launchpad for the next phase of agricultural transformation:
“This is not a closing-out process — it is a closing-up. The innovation must expand beyond Nigeria, across Africa.”
For 15 months, the SAID project piloted smart irrigation techniques in Enugu and Ebonyi States, equipping over 300 rice farmers with digital tools, irrigation skills, and climate-responsive sustainable farming practices.
The results were striking:
- Higher dry-season yields
- Improved water-use efficiency
- Greater resilience to unpredictable rainfall
- Lowered production risks amid intensifying climate challenges
By establishing reliable year-round rice production, the SAID model demonstrates the potential to close Nigeria’s rice supply gap and reduce import dependence.
Digital Agriculture at Scale: The Breakthrough App Built by UNN
Lead researcher Prof. Anthonia Achike revealed that UNN has successfully developed a digital application — tested, refined, and proven to support dry-season rice farming.
This app, created after extensive research and field testing, provides:
- Real-time irrigation guidance
- Soil moisture monitoring
- Water scheduling alerts
- Data-driven decision tools
- Smart climate-adaptation practices
It is the first university-built agricultural solution of its kind targeted specifically at smallholder rice farmers in Nigeria.
What the SAID project needs now is national buy-in, funding for scale, and integration into state and federal agricultural programmes.
Technology as the Future of Food Security
Chairman of WASCAL, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, emphasised that Nigeria cannot feed its population with ancestral farming methods:
“Those who farm only the way their forefathers farmed cannot feed today’s population. Technology must transform agriculture.”
He further stressed that insecurity remains the biggest threat to agricultural productivity and called for a national push to protect farming communities.
The intersection of insecurity, climate risk, and outdated farming models continues to limit Nigeria’s ability to meet its rice consumption needs — making technological interventions like SAID not just innovative but essential.
A Call for Government and Development Partner Support
UNN is urging:
- The Federal Government
- The European Union
- International development partners
- Agricultural ministries and donor agencies
to actively invest in the expansion of SAID across the country.
Scaling up the project will:
- Boost climate-resilient agriculture
- Empower farmers through digital inclusion
- Strengthen national food security
- Improve rural livelihoods
- Accelerate Nigeria’s transition to smart agriculture
UNN’s argument is clear: without scaling, sustainability cannot be achieved.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
The SAID project represents a new frontier for Nigeria’s agri-business landscape — one where digital intelligence meets farming, where climate resilience meets innovation, and where local universities become engines of national transformation.
If scaled properly, SAID could:
- Reshape Nigeria’s rice value chain
- Reduce heavy rice import bills
- Establish digital farming as mainstream practice
- Position Nigeria as a leader in African agri-tech
This is more than a university project — it is a prototype for the future of African agriculture.
UNN has provided the blueprint. What Nigeria needs now is the political will, investment commitment, and strategic alignment to unleash its full potential.
