—-Sign mou for geospatial intelligence platform: crop monitoring, food security planning

By Son Tertsea

A Federal government delegation left Nigeria to Morocco on Wednesday to finalise a partnership deal for developing Nigeria’s first National Agro-Productivity System.

Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice President, is representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, who headed the delegation is Chair of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit.

Technical Assistant on Agriculture to the President (Office of the VP), Marion Moon, disclosed this in a statement she signed titled ‘Federal Government Launches Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Nigeria’s National Agricultural Intelligence Capability.’

Moon, the Executive Secretary of the PFSCU, revealed that the shared geospatial intelligence platform will give federal, state and local governments real-time data on crop location, land availability, yield projections and food security threats nationwide.

On Friday, July 17, 2026, according to Moon, Hadejia will sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the PFSCU, OCP Africa and Ground Truth Analytics.

Furthermore, the PFSCU scribe noted that the initiative marks a shift in how the country approached agricultural planning. In her words:

“The future of agriculture depends not only on improved inputs, but equally on stronger intelligence.

“Through this partnership, Nigeria is strengthening the institutional capabilities needed to plan better, respond faster, and make more informed decisions.

“It also reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to stronger coordination, recognising that sustainable development is accelerated when institutions work together around shared national priorities.”

The National Agro-Productivity System will be coordinated by the PFSCU under the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism approved by the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, she added.

Moon explained rudiments of the programme that “will provide Government with timely insights on agricultural land availability, crop location, crop performance, growth stages and expected yield outcomes, strengthening production planning, food security monitoring, agribusiness investment, early warning, and policy development.”

Phase One of the initiative will comprise a six-month pilot across three states, focusing on localisation of the technology through dataset calibration, ground-truthing and national capacity building.

She stressed that the pilot will establish the technical and institutional foundations needed before the system is rolled out nationwide:

“The visit will also provide an opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to undertake technical engagements and institutional visits that will strengthen national capacity and support implementation of the pilot,” she stated.

The Nigeria-Morocco partnership comes exactly three years after President Bola Tinubu on July 13, 2023, declared a state of emergency on food security.

Nigeria’s food security crisis deepened in 2023, when the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the naira exchange window triggered a severe food inflation spiral that pushed the cost of staples beyond the reach of millions of households.

At its peak in early 2025, Nigeria’s food inflation exceeded 40 per cent year-on-year, among the highest in the world, with rice, maize, tomatoes and cooking oil recording the sharpest increases.

The World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and UNICEF had all raised the alarm about the scale of food insecurity in the country, with UNICEF estimating that over 31.8 million children under five are acutely malnourished.

According to the UNICEF, it was the second highest burden in the world after India.

The crisis was further compounded by persistent insecurity in the North-West and North-Central farming belts, flooding and climate disruptions in the Middle Belt.

This also included structural weaknesses in the country’s agricultural data infrastructure that made it difficult for planners to accurately monitor production, anticipate shortfalls or target interventions.

In July 2024, Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit following a memo submitted to President Tinubu on the need for a dedicated food systems council to coordinate the administration’s response to the crisis.

The PFSCU was constituted under the Presidential Economic Coordinating Council, with Marion Moon, Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture in the Office of the Vice President, serving as its Executive Secretary.

The unit says it has since driven a series of stakeholder engagements across all six geopolitical zones, convening state governors, agricultural ministry officials, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and development partners around the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism.

The NAPM was approved by the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security to align federal and state agricultural interventions around shared priorities.

In March 2026, the PFSCU deployed state coordinators across 13 pilot states to strengthen intelligence gathering on agricultural production patterns, following an earlier mass abandonment of rice cultivation by over 3,500 farmers who recorded cumulative losses estimated at N93bn.

Moon described the MoU as the PFSCU’s first major international technology partnership.

OCP Africa, the continental arm of Morocco’s OCP Group, is ranked the world’s largest phosphate exporter and a major fertiliser manufacturer operating across at least 30 African countries.

Meanwhile, Ground Truth Analytics, which specialises in satellite-based crop monitoring and geospatial agricultural data, has been deployed across several African markets to deliver field-level insights.

The delegation to Morocco comprises representatives from the Office of the Vice President, the PFSCU, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Space Research and Development Agency and the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, alongside technical experts supporting the initiative’s implementation.

Many youths are waiting for government jobs, office work, or quick business opportunities before they start building their future.

But the truth is this: agriculture has changed, holding the key to success.

Goat farming is no longer just the old village system where animals are left to roam around without records, planning, feeding structure, or market strategy.

Modern commercial goat farming is becoming one of the practical pathways through which serious youths can build income, assets, skills, and long-term business value.

The truth is that Goat Farming is not a “get -rich-quick” business.

It rewards knowledge, patience, structure, discipline, and good management.

Here is why serious youths should consider it:

1.GOATS ARE LIVING ASSETS

A goat is not just an animal.

A healthy female goat can give birth, increase your herd, produce future breeding stock, and create value over time.

Unlike some businesses where your capital disappears after one mistake, livestock can multiply when properly managed. For example, a young person who starts with a few healthy females and one good breeding male can gradually build a herd if the animals are well-fed, vaccinated, dewormed properly, protected, and managed with records.

This is how small beginnings can become serious business assets.

2.THE DEMAND FOR GOAT MEAT IS STRONG

In Nigeria, and many parts of Africa, goat meat is consumed in homes, restaurants, events, hotels, pepper soup joints, celebrations daily, and during festive periods.

The demand is not seasonal alone. People eat goat meat all year round.

This means a youth who undertakes production, fattening, breeding, and or marketing can position himself or herself in a market that already has demand.

The challenge is not whether people need goats.

The challenge is whether the farmer can produce healthy, well-managed, good-quality animals consistently.

3.MODERN FARMING CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN SELLING GOATS ALONE

A modern goat farmer does not only make money by selling mature goats.

There are several areas around the business:

Breeding stock production, Fattening for meat, sale of manure, feed production, hay production, silage production, farm training, Consultancy,
Farm setup, Medication and management services.

Other areas are: online livestock marketing,
Transport and supply chain, Crossbreeding and breed improvement

This means a youth can enter the industry from different angles depending on capital, location, skill, interest and or available resources.

4.GOAT FARMING CAN START SMALL

You do not need to begin with 100 goats.

In fact, many beginners fail because they start too big without experience.

A wise youth can start with 3 to 5 healthy females, learn proper management, understand feeding, keep records, study diseases, and grow gradually.

Starting small gives you time to learn without losing everything.

The goal business is not to impress people online.

The goal is to build a farm that can survive, grow, and produce results.

5.TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE FARMING EASIER

Modern goat farming is no longer guesswork.

Today, youths can use phones and simple tools to improve their farm.

You can keep records digitally.
You can advertise animals online.
You can learn from experienced farmers.
You can monitor breeding dates.
You can track vaccination and deworming schedules.
You can sell through Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and YouTube.
You can build a farm brand from your phone.

This is where youths have an advantage.

Many older farmers may have experience, but many youths understand media, branding, content, networking, and digital marketing better.

That is a serious advantage if used properly.

6.COMMERCIAL GOAT FARMING TEACHES DISCIPLINE

A farm will train you.

Animals do not care whether you are tired, discouraged, or distracted.

They need water.
They need feed.
They need clean housing.
They need observation.
They need treatment when necessary.
They need protection.

This discipline can shape a youth into a responsible business person.

If you can manage livestock properly, you are learning patience, consistency, observation, planning, and accountability.

These are the same qualities needed in any serious business.

7.IT CAN REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON SALARY ALONE

Many youths are waiting for one job to solve all their problems.

But in today’s economy, relying on one income source can be risky.

A small but well-managed goat farm can become an additional income stream.

You can be working, schooling, trading, or learning a skill while building your livestock asset gradually.

That is why structure is important.

With good housing, feeding routine, record keeping, and proper supervision, a small goat farm can be managed without turning your whole life upside down.

8.GOAT FARMING BUILDS GENERATIONAL VALUE

Land, livestock, knowledge, and farm systems can be passed on.

A youth who builds a serious farm today is not only creating income; he or she is building something that can grow into a family business.

Many wealthy people today started with one practical business and stayed consistent.

Goat farming can become that foundation for some youths if they treat it as business, not as a casual hobby.

9.IT CREATES EMPLOYMENT FOR OTHERS

A serious goat farm will eventually need workers, feed suppliers, transporters, vets, attendants, marketers, and farm assistants.

So when one youth builds a proper farm, that youth can also create opportunities for others.

This is how agriculture can help reduce unemployment—not by theory, but by practical production.

10.IT CONNECTS YOUTHS BACK TO REAL PRODUCTION

Many people want money, but very few want to produce anything.

Goat farming teaches production.

You are producing meat, breeding stock, manure, value and solving a real food demand.

Any economy that ignores production will struggle.

Youths who enter agriculture with knowledge and structure will not go backward. They will step into one of the most important sectors of the economy in future.

Warning:
Do not enter goat farming blindly.
Before starting, learn first: Understand housing, feeding, breeds, disease prevention, vaccination, quarantine, deworming, record keeping, market demand, cash flow and mortality risk.

Do not use your last money to buy animals without a plan.

Do not buy goats from anywhere and mix them immediately with your flock.

Do not start with exotic breeds if you do not understand management.

Do not depend only on free grazing.

Do not think prayer alone will replace proper farm management.

God blesses wisdom, planning, diligence, and responsible action.

The Best Way For A Youth To Start

Start small.
Build a clean pen.
Buy healthy animals from a trusted source.
Quarantine new animals.
Keep records.
Feed properly.
Vaccinate.
Deworm responsibly.
Learn from experienced farmers.
Reinvest profit.
Grow gradually.
Build a farm brand online.

Final Word:
Modern commercial goat farming or any business is not for lazy people.
It is for people who can think, learn, observe, plan, stay focused and consistent.

It is not magic money.
It is a practical financial creation model built on livestock multiplication, market demand, discipline, and proper management.

Instead of waiting for opportunities.
Start with one goat, one pen, one customer, and one smart decision at a time.

The future belongs to producers.
If you are a youth and you are serious about farming, do not just admire goat farming from a distance: Learn it. Plan it. Start wisely.
Manage it smartly and grow it patiently.

What’s the biggest challenge stopping you from starting.

Is it capital, land, knowledge, fear, or market?

DoxaonFarms

LivestockBusiness

By Tor Vande-Acka

Rev. Fr. Michael Melladu, Chairman, Benue State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, has stated that the Government of Israel has promised to grant some youths from the state scholarship into some of its schools.

The first batch of the youths that would commence apprenticeship training on Israeli farms are expected to return to Benue and replicate the modern farming techniques they acquire in the state to boost food production.

Fr Melladu, who disclosed this while playing host to members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by the Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, also said, the Board, plans to float a school that would serve as a revenue generating venture for the Board.

Speaking on his meeting with the Israelis during the last pilgrimage, Melladu, explained that he told the Israelis “I have gone through your profiles, you are running hotels and schools; you are also into farming in Israel. So where do we come in as a State and they asked me what do you want?

“I said you need to give us some scholarship slots in your schools. You also need to take some of our young people and train them in your farms in Israel so that when they come back, they will implement it in our state.

“So during the pilgrimage, I had an aside meeting with them and they have agreed that they will be taking five persons each time we go on pilgrimage. So we are already working on the first set of young people who will travel there and do the apprenticeship in their farms”, he said.

Similarly, on the plans by the Board to float a school, Melladu stated “I did a proposal to the governor where I suggested that it would not be right for this Board to be depending solely on government sponsorship and that we should also find a way of generating revenue so that at the end of the day, even if we are unable to get all the monies that are required for running this Board, we should have something on ground and only be looking for something to supplement what we get.

“We have a vast land that belongs to us. That is where we are supposed to build our permanent site so I told the governor that the land there is enough to build our permanent site. So let us build a modern kindergarten of international standard on our permanent site.

“Also we have many people here who have a lot of money and are looking for where to spend the money. So when we build the school, we will consider giving those who are less privileged subsidy.

“When I was in Port-Harcourt, we had such a school under my parish and I know how much we were generating annually. And if we begin that project in this place, which is in the heart of the town and if it is properly handled, this Board will be able to become independent.

“The governor has bought into the idea and we may be considering to do that. But for now things are not as it should be and as you can see even the infrastructure here (present office) is not befitting”, adding that “despite these challenges, our dreams are huge and we are looking to doing better, God willing”, the Board Chairman stated.

Earlier, the Chairman, NUJ, Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, congratulated Rev Fr Melladu on his well-deserved appointment, noting that his track record of “spiritual leadership, administrative discipline, and unwavering commitment to the service of God and humanity.

“Since you assumed office, your leadership has ensured that Christians from Benue state successfully embarked on the Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the NUJ chairman observed.