A Non Governmental Organisation, Al Sesi Foundation has launched a new digital platform aimed at transforming agriculture in Baruten Local Government Area by improving data-driven decision-making and connecting farmers directly with companies.
Speaking at the Baruten Tech Summit held in Kosubosu, the Head of Agric Department Baruten LGA, Dr. Abdullahi Abdulkareem, urged farmers to cooperate fully with the Al Sesi Foundation to ensure the success of the initiative.
He explained that the platform will host a comprehensive database capturing key information such as farm size, crops cultivated, and challenges faced by farmers, including pests and water access.
According to Dr. Abdulkareem, the absence of reliable data has often resulted in poorly informed decisions affecting farmers.
He described the initiative as a vital step toward a smarter and more supported farming community.
Addressing participants at the summit, the Secretary Baruten Farmers Association, Hon. Gunu Sime Yahaya highlighted the need for farmers to begin treating agriculture as a business.
He noted that many farmers work through entire seasons without accurately calculating their production costs, often selling their produce without knowing whether they made a profit or a loss.
He encouraged farmers to keep simple financial records of all expenses and income, stressing that proper cost tracking is key to setting fair prices and improving long-term profitability.
The Director-General of the Al Sesi Foundation, Abdulmajeed Sesi Adam, announced that the newly launched website is designed to link farmers directly with companies, reducing dependence on middlemen who often exploit producers.
He explained that the platform will also track agricultural output in tons on a daily basis, with trained personnel collecting and uploading data from strategic locations across Baruten.
Abdulmajeed noted that while the project is still in its early stages, it has the potential to create employment for at least 50 youths in data collection, monitoring, and platform management.
He called on the Kwara State Government and Baruten Local Government Council and other stakeholders to support the initiative to enable its full implementation.
Farmers and stakeholders at the summit welcomed the innovation, describing it as timely and capable of improving transparency, increasing farmers’ income, and strengthening Baruten’s agricultural linkages with major buyers.