December 17, (THEWILL) – A former Managing Director of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, Engr Mfon Taiwo Enobong Essien, says the fourth industrial revolution will disrupt the existing order in agricultural production.
Engr Essien, who is also the MD of Steward Taissen Shalom Holdings said breaking the existing order creates a gap which opportunities can emerge.
He maintains that this offers an opportunity to increase agricultural competitiveness and opportunities to overcome structural weaknesses in the country.
Engr Essien disclosed this during a one-day public lecture organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers as part of the activities to mark this year’s Engineering Week currently taking place in Calabar.
His lecture was themed: The Fourth Industrial Revolution And Food Security: The Place of Engineers.
He said, “So many new technologies, products and services are appearing that the entire agricultural sector will soon be unrecognisable to participants of a generation ago.
“To prepare for this future, agricultural companies must take the right steps now.
“Just as the first, second and third industrial revolutions did, the emergence of new technologies achieved via revolution always begins with the destruction of an existing order.
“Breaking existing order creates a gap in which opportunities can emerge.
“The fourth industrial revolution technology presents a chance to increase agricultural competitiveness and an opportunity to overcome the structural weaknesses of our current agricultural system and the limits of intensive agriculture.
He said there are pros and cons associated with the fourth industrial revolution.
He listed the pros to include increased yields, lower costs, reduction of environmental impact, new innovation and market lowering entry barriers, climate change adaptation, improve quality of work life balance, attract young and physically challenged people to agriculture.
For the cons, he said the fourth industrial revolution leads to resource depletion, job losses, demographic changes, core industry disruptions and many others.
He said engineers have a responsibility to adopt, adapt, be proficient in the utilization of the existing innovation as well as the operation, maintenance and back up service provision.
He charged the government at all levels to facilitate the provision of infrastructure that supports technology based agriculture, value re-orientation, farmers education as well as digital extension services.
He equally charged universities across the country to revise and update curricular in all agriculture-related courses.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
