BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES IN NIGERIAN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Abstract

Precision Agriculture (PA) or Information-based Management of Agricultural Production System (IMAPS) came into existence since the mid-1980s as the process through which the right treatment is given to the agricultural process at the right time. PA was employed mainly for fertilizer application to various soil conditions across agricultural fields at the onset. Since then, different use of PA has been engaged in other areas of agriculture such as farming vehicles and implements, autonomous machinery and processes, product traceability, on-farm research, and software for the overall management of agricultural production systems. To describe precision agriculture, most simplified way is the examination of t right time, right amount, right place, right source and proper manner of agriculture inputs like water, fertilizer, pesticide, etc. The primary constraint of agricultural development in Nigeria is the use of inadequate methods of data and information acquisition on agrarian land potential, crops condition, and farming activities. It can, therefore, be concluded that the lack of decision support systems to be a significant barrier to the adoption of PA. Farmers need decision support systems that enable effective decision making based on accurate and timely data. Keywords: Agriculture, Precision, GPS, GIS, Tools.