Commodity.ng Co-founder Ibrahim Muhammed (IBM Bangis) Calls for Data-Driven Agriculture at Abuja Summit
Nigeria’s agricultural future will depend less on how much land is cultivated and more on how effectively the country uses data to drive decisions across the food system, according to Ibrahim Muhammed (IBM Bangis), Co-founder of Commodity.ng.
Speaking at a recent agricultural summit held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Ibrahim said Nigeria can no longer afford to run its agricultural sector based on assumptions, outdated records, and fragmented information if it hopes to achieve food security and sustainable economic growth.
Addressing policymakers, agribusiness leaders, investors, researchers, farmers, and development partners at the event, he described data as the “new infrastructure” that will determine the success of agriculture in the coming decades.
“Every successful agricultural economy in the world is powered by information,” Ibrahim said. “The future of Nigerian agriculture will not be determined only by tractors, fertilizers, or hectares cultivated. It will be determined by the quality of data available to farmers, businesses, investors, and policymakers.”
Agriculture’s Missing Link
According to Ibrahim, one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector is the lack of reliable, real-time, and accessible agricultural data.
He noted that millions of farmers make critical decisions every planting season without adequate information on weather conditions, market demand, price movements, soil health, or production trends.
“Many farmers are producing blindly,” he said. “They do not know where the strongest demand exists, they do not know future market trends, and they often lack the information needed to maximize productivity and profitability.”
He explained that this information gap contributes significantly to post-harvest losses, poor investment decisions, market inefficiencies, and food price volatility.
Why Data Matters More Than Ever
Ibrahim stressed that agriculture is increasingly becoming a data-driven industry globally.
From satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to precision agriculture and market intelligence platforms, data is helping farmers around the world make smarter decisions.
“Data is becoming as important as land, labour, and water,” he said.
According to him, access to accurate information can help farmers determine:
- What crops to plant
- When to plant
- Where to sell
- How much to produce
- How to manage climate risks
- How to improve profitability
He argued that a farmer with access to quality information has a significant advantage over one who relies solely on guesswork.
Solving Food Security Through Intelligence
Speaking on Nigeria’s food security challenges, Ibrahim said the country must move beyond reactive interventions and adopt predictive agricultural planning.
“Food security is not simply about producing more food,” he said. “It is about understanding supply, demand, production patterns, climate risks, and market behavior before problems occur.”
He explained that reliable agricultural intelligence can help government agencies identify potential shortages early, improve resource allocation, and design more effective interventions.
According to him, data-driven planning can significantly reduce the frequency of food crises and market disruptions.
Supporting Farmers with Better Information
Ibrahim emphasized that data has the potential to empower millions of smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
“When a farmer has access to weather forecasts, market prices, and production intelligence, they are in a stronger position to make profitable decisions,” he stated.
He noted that many farmers currently sell produce below market value simply because they lack access to pricing information from other markets.
Similarly, poor access to weather intelligence often leads to planting decisions that expose farmers to unnecessary risks.
“Information is power in agriculture,” he said. “The difference between profit and loss can sometimes be access to the right information at the right time.”
Attracting Investment into Agriculture
The Commodity.ng Co-founder also highlighted the role of data in attracting investment into the agricultural sector.
He explained that many investors remain cautious because they lack visibility into agricultural markets, production trends, and supply chains.
“Investors want certainty,” he said. “Data reduces uncertainty. It helps investors identify opportunities, understand risks, and make informed decisions.”
According to Ibrahim, improving agricultural data systems could unlock significant domestic and international investment across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Climate Change Demands Smarter Agriculture
Addressing the growing threat of climate change, Ibrahim noted that traditional farming practices are becoming increasingly vulnerable to droughts, floods, and changing weather patterns.
He argued that farmers need access to climate intelligence to adapt effectively.
“Climate change is making agriculture more unpredictable,” he said. “Farmers need tools that can help them anticipate weather conditions, manage risks, and improve resilience.”
He explained that data-driven systems can support better water management, yield forecasting, pest monitoring, and climate adaptation strategies.
Building a Digital Agricultural Economy
Ibrahim urged stakeholders to embrace technology as a key driver of agricultural transformation.
According to him, technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, drones, remote sensing, and digital marketplaces are reshaping agriculture globally.
“Nigeria must not be left behind,” he said.
He called for greater collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, agritech companies, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders to strengthen agricultural data infrastructure nationwide.
Commodity.ng Insight
Ibrahim noted that the future competitiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural sector will depend heavily on its ability to collect, analyze, and utilize agricultural data effectively.
He said the sector must move from intuition-based decision-making to evidence-based planning.
“Countries that dominate food production in the future will not necessarily be those with the largest farmlands,” he said. “They will be those that make the smartest decisions using the best information available.”
According to him, Nigeria possesses the land, climate, and human resources needed to become an agricultural powerhouse. However, unlocking that potential will require a stronger focus on data, transparency, market intelligence, and digital innovation.
“The next agricultural revolution will not be driven by land alone,” Ibrahim concluded. “It will be driven by data.”
The event attracted policymakers, agribusiness executives, development partners, researchers, technology innovators, investors, and farmer groups from across the country, all united by a shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural future through innovation and collaboration.
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