Ogun State drives agricultural transformation with digital registration initiative

9 January 2025

IITA -CGIAR, in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, is making significant strides in agricultural development through the Ogun State Farmer Information Management System (OGFIMS) initiative. This initiative, funded by the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) sponsored by the World Bank, aims to modernize the agricultural sector by leveraging technology and data-driven strategies.

On 13 December, a review retreat workshop was held to mark the completion of the digital registration of farmers and Value Chain Actors (VCAs) under the OGFIMS development project led by IITA. This registration effort is one of the key components of OGSTEP, designed to enhance the state's capacity to support and connect key players in the agricultural sector.

The exercise involved 70 trained enumerators using digital survey tools to gather data. These enumerators were divided into four regional teams, each supported by two supervisors and two monitoring and evaluation officers, forming a total team of 84. Between July and November 2023, the team registered 160,000 farmers and VCAs.

During the workshop, participants reviewed the fieldwork's successes and challenges, analyzed the collected data, and proposed solutions for future improvements. The OGFIMS consultant, Dr Lydia Olufunmilola, presented key analytical insights.

The IITA-OGFIMS programmers, Busayo Ogunya and Tunde Ajayi, reviewed the digital registration form and identified enhancements to improve data accessibility and user experience. Hector Igboko, who also works with the programming team, showcased the OGFIMS interactive dashboard, which provides real-time insights, supports data-driven decision-making, and offers a deeper understanding of the agricultural sector's economic activities.

The OGSTEP Agricultural Manager, Dr Oluseyi Olugbire, emphasized that the data collected would help design targeted interventions and connect farmers with agrifood value chain actors.

These connections will provide better access to inputs, services, finance, and markets, strengthening Ogun State's agribusiness sector and driving sustainable economic growth.

The OGFIMS Project Lead, Dr Lava Kumar, highlighting the success of the digital registration process, said, "The successful digital registration of the farmers and VCAs has demonstrated the system's functionality."

He noted that upcoming modules such as e-Agroshop, e-Extension, and market information will further enhance the OGFIMS platform and benefit users.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to implementing the proposed improvements, ensuring the project's ongoing effectiveness and success.

With initiatives like OGFIMS, the Ogun State government is partnering with IITA to champion the use of digital technology to transform agriculture, ultimately improving livelihoods and fostering economic resilience.

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