Transforming Nigeria’s Agri-Food Systems: The Origin Tech Group Story

Admin I Monday, July 29, 2024

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), one of Africa’s most pressing agricultural concerns revolves around meeting the nutritional needs of its rapidly expanding population, projected to swell to 398 million by 2050.

To satisfy this growing demand for food, agricultural output must escalate accordingly.

Nigerians, as a critical mass and a subset of that African agricultural deficiency concern, are currently experiencing dire situations due to the worst economic slump in recent years. Experts attribute this to the unanticipated and sudden fuel subsidy removal and the devaluation of the Naira. More pointedly, Nigeria faces the daunting challenge of feeding its populace due to low agricultural productivity, as outlined by Sensale Research Limited, a member of the Origin Tech Group.

Food security for Nigerians has become a recurring issue, exacerbated by high food inflation hovering at 40% and the inability of food producers to access over 73% of the arable lands within the greenbelt zone, particularly in the northern part of the country, due to banditry, herders-farmers clashes, and other forms of criminality. Insecurity in traditionally key large-scale agricultural states has worsened the national food insecurity index.

These developments have continued to generate strong discomfort among stakeholders, who mutually agree that urgent interventions are needed to resolve some of these challenges plaguing the agriculture sector and impacting food security.

ORIGIN Tech Group, a knowledge-based and practical solution-driven leader in agri-tech and food systems, has been leading the transformation of the agricultural and livestock value chain space in the West African sub-region. Their efforts align with various state governments’ initiatives aimed at alleviating the effects of food shortages caused by insecurity across traditional farming communities.

A notable partnership involves the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture under the Five-Year Agricultural Roadmap led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This initiative aims to develop agricultural value chains where the state has competitive advantages to attain self-sufficiency in food production, increasing from 18% to 40%. The roadmap is also expected to boost food production and reduce post-harvest losses, encouraging private sector investments that would trigger agricultural transformation in southwestern states.

One significant outcome of this partnership is the Mid-Level Market (MLM) initiative across select communities in Lagos State. The MLM aims to construct modern markets for storing and selling various foodstuffs at affordable prices. The pilot project, MLM Mushin, situated at Idi-Oro, is already deemed one of the cheapest and most organized fresh food markets in Lagos. Construction work is ongoing for the MLM Agege Project and MLM Ajah, which aim to improve market access and enhance the value of foodstuffs while providing a remarkable shopping experience for residents.

ORIGIN Tech Group’s collaboration with the state government’s agricultural and food systems roadmap extends to developing the Logistics Hub Project in Epe-Ereyun. This proposed cold and dry storage facility is projected to be the largest food security system and central logistics park in sub-Saharan Africa, guaranteeing storage and economic value for farmers and shoppers. Currently 65% complete, the Lagos Central Food and Security Systems Logistics Hub is envisioned to enhance food sufficiency in West Africa. When finished, it is expected to create direct wealth for more than five million traders in the agriculture value chain, ensuring uninterrupted food supplies for over ten million Lagosians for at least 90 days during periods of scarcity.

Another area where ORIGIN Tech Group is making a significant impact is the animal livestock and beef market. The FAO highlights Africa’s substantial consumption rates with over 350 million tons of beef and 740 million tons of milk consumed annually. To meet the burgeoning demand for animal products across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, ORIGIN Tech Group is at the epicenter of the Livestock and Beef Value-Chain enhancement initiative with the Lagos Transit Station, Cattle Ranch & Resort in Igbodu. This facility includes the fattening of cattle to meet the large demand for meat as part of Lagos State’s food systems transformation strategy.

Attracted by ORIGIN Tech Group’s success in Lagos State, the governor of Niger State, H.E Mohammed Umar Bago, has partnered with the company for the supply and funding of equipment support services. This partnership aims to transform food production in Nigeria through large-scale agricultural mechanization of over one million hectares of arable farmlands in Niger State. The goal is to turn Niger State into a leading agricultural and livestock value-chain processor, reducing social and economic challenges related to unemployment in Niger State and beyond. The partnership will also extend to mobilizing support from ORIGIN Tech Group’s international financial partners and local funding institutions for adequate financing.

According to Prince S J Samuel, Chairman of ORIGIN Tech Group, the National Food Systems initiative, developed and implemented by ORIGIN Tech Group in collaboration with Lagos State and recently Niger State, is a social-enterprise intervention contributing to national development. The company is open to collaborations and partnerships to ensure the systematic implementation of this scientific approach.

This effort comes at a time when knowledge-based home-grown solutions are driving the prosperity of leading developed and developing nations. For context, Brazil generates a cumulative revenue of $130 billion from its 225 million cows, which is three times what Nigeria earns from crude oil.

For over 25 years, ORIGIN Tech Group has been transforming lives across communities through knowledge-based and practical home-grown solutions. As a market leader across major economic verticals, including food systems, automotive, civil engineering, and construction, ORIGIN Tech Group is poised to lead Nigeria towards a future of food security and agricultural prosperity.