From AI-powered disease surveillance to partnerships transforming rural economies, Farm Innovation Nigeria Ltd is rewriting how Africa farms—and reshaping the future of food security on the continent.
In the dusty villages of northern Nigeria, a livestock farmer watches helplessly as his goats show signs of illness. Just a few years ago, he’d rely on trial and error or distant veterinary officers who might not arrive for weeks. Today, however, a simple smartphone app called VetWiz 2.0 helps him diagnose symptoms, seek treatment recommendations, and connect directly to nearby veterinary shops for essential medicines.
This is the reality being crafted by Farm Innovation Nigeria Ltd, a fast-growing Nigerian agri-tech firm known for embedding technology into the very fabric of rural agricultural life.
Founded in 2019, Farm Innovation Nigeria focuses on using digital solutions to improve the lives and incomes of smallholder farmers. It has partnered with organisations like the Mastercard Foundation, PropCom, and MyCaFe to deliver scalable innovations in agriculture and livestock health.
At the heart of Farm Innovation’s latest efforts is the recently upgraded VetWiz 2.0—a web and mobile platform designed to transform how livestock diseases are diagnosed and managed.
Initially built for community animal health workers, the app has evolved into a robust tool that uses artificial intelligence to track disease trends, generate real-time outbreak alerts, and offer data-driven insights into livestock health patterns across Nigeria.
“From our engagements with stakeholders like NDRI and BCN, we saw the need to build a platform that supports both human and animal health workers,” said Chinwe Owhorji, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Farm Innovation Nigeria Ltd, during the VetWiz 2.0 launch event. “With this relaunch, we’re embedding AI to make disease monitoring more intelligent and responsive.”
Beyond offering diagnostic tools, VetWiz 2.0 allows users to escalate complex cases directly to licensed veterinarians and maintain digital records that can inform vaccine development and policy decisions. Its real-time data feeds also support agencies like the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), strengthening Nigeria’s broader public health infrastructure.
The driving force behind Farm Innovation Nigeria is Chinwe Owhorji, a passionate innovator and entrepreneur whose career bridges technology, development, and agriculture.
Before founding the company, Owhorji worked extensively in agricultural value chain projects and community development. Her work focuses on creating sustainable digital solutions that address the realities of Nigeria’s rural populations. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing partnerships with local and international organisations to expand Farm Innovation Nigeria’s impact.
She remains a strong advocate for the One Health concept—a global approach that recognises the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health.
“We are placing ourselves at the heart of digital agriculture and health innovation—not just to improve animal care but to strengthen food security and rural livelihoods across Africa,” she said.
Beyond VetWiz 2.0, Farm Innovation Nigeria operates several digital-first projects aimed at closing critical gaps in agricultural productivity and livestock management.
The firm trains community animal health workers, ensuring even remote villages have skilled personnel equipped with digital tools. Its platforms also link farmers directly to veterinary drug vendors, reducing delays and cost barriers to essential livestock care.
Dr. Olasoju Taiwo, representing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development during the VetWiz launch, praised the initiative as timely. “Livestock is the backbone of our economy. Any threat to animal health impacts food security and livelihoods. VetWiz 2.0, as a web-based AI tool, is both timely and essential,” he said.
Farm Innovation Nigeria’s work aligns closely with Nigeria’s broader push to modernize its agricultural sector, enhance disease surveillance, and reduce dependence on external interventions.
Why It Matters
Agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, employing over a third of the workforce and contributing significantly to GDP. Yet the sector still struggles with low yields, disease outbreaks, and a lack of timely data.
By embedding technology into agricultural practices, Farm Innovation Nigeria is tackling these issues head-on, empowering farmers with tools that improve animal health, productivity, and ultimately, rural incomes.
The question now is whether Nigeria’s agri-tech ecosystem can sustain such innovation without over-reliance on donor funding, and if other startups will follow Farm Innovation’s lead in addressing challenges beyond urban fintech ventures.
For now, one thing is clear: the future of Nigeria’s agriculture is increasingly digital, and Farm Innovation Nigeria is determined to be at the forefront of that transformation.
