By Our Reporter
Stakeholders from Nigeria's North-northwestern states endorse further evaluation and broader deployment of innovative crop-protection and plant-nutrition technology across Nigeria.
The Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency (KADA), in collaboration with NISSCORP, the authorized in-country provider of Sentinel X™ technology, has convened a high-level hybrid validation workshop to assess the suitability of the innovative technology for agricultural deployment across Nigeria’s North-West region.
The workshop brought together participants from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Jigawa States, including government officials, Agricultural Development Programme managers, technical experts, regulatory and research institutions, financial organizations, insurance providers, farmer associations, development partners, extension personnel, farm managers, cooperatives and practicing farmers.
The event provided a platform for the presentation and validation of Sentinel X™, described by its developers as a commercially deployed, non-chemical, photonic information-based system designed to support crop protection and plant nutrition.
The validation workshop marked a significant step towards the formal introduction of Sentinel X™ into Nigeria’s agricultural production system, following demonstration pilots conducted across selected farms in Kaduna State. Results presented at the workshop indicated near-zero Fall Armyworm infestation and measurable improvements in crop performance and yield outcomes on participating farms.
GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Food Safety and Consumer Health in Nigeria: Sentinel X™ as an Innovative Solution for Agrochemical Detoxification in Agricultural Produce,” was declared open by the General Manager of KADA, Malam Muhammad Rili.
In his opening remarks, Malam Rili welcomed participants and emphasized the urgent need to embrace sustainable agricultural innovations that increase productivity while protecting human health, soil quality and the environment.
He explained that the initiative aligns with the agricultural transformation agenda of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, particularly the administration’s commitment to food security, climate-smart agriculture, farmer prosperity and sustainable economic development.
Malam Rili commended the collaboration between KADA and NISSCORP and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to supporting innovations capable of strengthening agricultural production and promoting safer food systems in Kaduna State and Nigeria.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Malam Murtala Mohammed Dabo, reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting innovation, food security and environmentally responsible agricultural practices.
The Commissioner encouraged stakeholders to continue exploring practical and affordable solutions that would strengthen agricultural value chains, reduce production risks and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
EVIDENCE-BASED VALIDATION FOR COMMERCIAL DEPLOYMENT
According to Malam Muhammad Rili, the exercise was designed to obtain technical and user feedback and provide an evidence-based platform for assessing the suitability, scalability, commercial viability and long-term sustainability of Sentinel X™.
Malam Rili noted that the deployment of innovative technologies must be supported by scientific evidence, farmer experience, regulatory engagement, effective extension services and an implementation framework that makes the solution affordable and accessible to smallholder farmers.
NISSCORP PRESENTS SENTINEL X™ AS AN AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE
Speaking on the purpose of the workshop, Kingsley Obaji, NISSCORP President explained that the North-West validation exercise was organized to bring together stakeholders operating within similar agroecological conditions. He expressed appreciation to HE Governor Uba Sani, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Malam Murtala Mohammed Dabo and KADA leadership for their leadership, vision and continued commitment to the advancement of greener, safer and more sustainable agricultural practices in Kaduna State.
Presenting the technology, the Country Manager of NISSCORP, Igo Ogbu, encouraged farmers and agricultural institutions to consider Sentinel X™ as a safer and more affordable alternative to repeated applications of conventional chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
He explained that a Sentinel X™ subscription covers the farming cycle, unlike conventional crop-protection practices that may require farmers to spray chemicals three or four times during a production season.
According to him, the subscription cost represents a fraction of what many farmers currently spend on chemical pesticides, fertilizers, spraying equipment and related labour.
The presentation also highlighted the potential of Sentinel X™ to reduce farmers’ exposure to hazardous chemicals, minimize chemical residues in agricultural produce and support healthier soils and ecosystems.
STAKEHOLDERS SHARE REGIONAL AND FARMER PERSPECTIVES
Representatives from Kano Sate, Dr Farouk Kurawa, General Manager, Kano Agricultural Development Agency (KNARDA), Zamfara State, PM Musa Maaruf, Plateau State, Mamsing Julius, Kebbi State, Umar Bagudu and other participating states welcomed the opportunity to engage and deploy Sentinel X in their respective states. Dr. Farouk encouraged farmers to embrace Sentinel X technology in order to lean towards global drive for organic food as chemical residual as a result of spraying, continue to prevent the local produce from reaching the global market.
Representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mohammed Kabir and other farmer groups acknowledged the burden associated with the rising cost of pesticides, fertilizers and repeated chemical applications. They stressed that farmers would be willing to adopt Sentinel X™ as its effectiveness and benefits have been clearly demonstrated through the workshop and the practical field results from the trials in Kaduna State.
The farmer representatives also called for sustained sensitization, transparent subscription arrangements and the involvement of organized farmer groups in the design and implementation of future commercial programmes.
Representatives of financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, highlighted the importance of developing appropriate financing models that would enable smallholder farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses to access innovative agricultural technology as Sentinel X.
The financial stakeholders encouraged the development of bankable implementation frameworks, credible farmer databases, measurable performance indicators and partnerships capable of supporting nationwide commercial expansion.
The insurance representative present at the workshop observed that technology as Sentinel X capable of reducing pest infestation and stabilizing crop performance could contribute to improved agricultural risk management. The representative encouraged further engagement between NISSCORP, agricultural institutions, farmers and insurance providers to determine how Sentinel X could be incorporated into agricultural insurance products.
Regulatory and development institutions also stressed the importance of consumer-safety assessment, farmer education and compliance with applicable agricultural and environmental standards.
WORKSHOP ENDORSES FURTHER VALIDATION AND EXPANSION
Following technical presentations, firsthand testimonials from farmers involved in the pilot programme and an interactive question-and-answer session, participants acknowledged the potential of Sentinel X™ as a sustainable, non-chemical option for crop protection and plant nutrition.
Participants engaged experts on the technology’s operational framework, expected outcomes, affordability, scalability, commercial viability, regulatory requirements and long-term sustainability.
Stakeholders noted that pilot farms recorded near-zero Fall Armyworm infestation and improvements in crop performance. They therefore expressed confidence that Sentinel X™ could contribute to the transformation of agricultural production systems in Nigeria.
The workshop collectively supported:
Independent technical assessment by relevant research and regulatory institutions.
Increased farmer sensitization and extension support.
Development of affordable subscription and financing arrangements.
The engagement of agricultural insurance providers to assess risk-reduction opportunities.
Integration of farmer associations and cooperatives into future deployment programmes.
Development of a clear regulatory and commercialization framework; and
Gradual expansion of the technology across the North-West and other regions of Nigeria.
KADA CALLS FOR STRATEGIC NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Delivering the closing remarks, Malam Muhammad Rili emphasized the need for further validation of Sentinel X™ in other parts of the country, stronger stakeholder engagement and strategic planning to support possible nationwide commercial adoption.
He stated that scaling innovative agricultural solutions such as Sentinel X™ could make a significant contribution to food safety, consumer health, farmer productivity and environmentally sustainable agricultural development in Kaduna State, the North-West region and Nigeria as a whole.
He called for continued collaboration among government institutions, research and regulatory agencies, development partners, financial institutions, insurance providers, farmer organizations and private-sector technology providers.
The validation workshop concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to support the evaluation, awareness, financing and commercialization processes required for the responsible integration of Sentinel X™ into Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The participants further resolved to promote agricultural technology as Sentinel X capable of strengthening food security, improving farmers’ livelihoods, reducing excessive dependence on agrochemicals and protecting human and environmental health.
ABOUT SENTINEL X™
Developed by Informiton and deployed by NISSCORP, Sentinel X™ is a non-chemical, photonic information-based crop-protection and plant-nutrition technology.
The system delivers photonic interaction to mapped farms through the ambient near-infrared solar spectrum of approximately 700 to 2,500 nanometres. The interaction stimulates the natural biology of crops to produce volatile organic compounds that help repel destructive pests such as Fall Armyworm.
Sentinel X does not involve the application of chemicals, genetic modification, installation of equipment on farms or major changes to existing farming practices. NNL.
