Technology in Agricultural Transformation and Food Security: A Panacea for National Development

Abstract

This study examined the impact of technology in agricultural transformation and food security on national development in Nigeria, with national development proxied by the poverty rate (POV) as the dependent variable. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of agricultural Information and Communication Technology ICT adoption (AGRICT), agricultural gross domestic product (AGRGDP), fertiliser application (FERTAPPL), nutritional adequacy (NUTADE), and food accessibility on poverty reduction (ACCESS). It was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, which explain how technological innovation enhances agricultural productivity, food security, and socioeconomic welfare. An ex post facto research design was adopted using annual time-series data obtained from secondary sources, including the World Development Indicators (World Bank), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, unit root tests, cointegration analysis, and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to determine both the short-run and long-run relationships among the variables. The findings revealed that agricultural GDP, fertilizer application, nutritional adequacy, and food accessibility had positive and statistically significant effects on national development, indicating that improvements in agricultural productivity and food security are critical drivers of economic welfare and poverty reduction in Nigeria. In contrast, agricultural ICT adoption exerted a negative but statistically insignificant effect on the poverty rate, suggesting that although increased ICT adoption tends to reduce poverty, its impact has not been sufficiently strong to produce significant national development outcomes during the study period. The study concluded that technology remains an indispensable catalyst for agricultural transformation and food security, but its effectiveness depends on complementary investments in infrastructure, human capital, agricultural financing, and supportive government policies. Accordingly, the study recommended that the government should pursue integrated strategies that combine ICT expansion with investments in rural infrastructure, agricultural financing, human capital development, and market reforms. Such a comprehensive approach is more likely to improve food security, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable national development. These measures will enhance agricultural productivity, improve food security, reduce poverty, and accelerate sustainable national development in Nigeria.