Lagos: RID LAB, an agro-diagnostic company, has advocated for the adoption of data-driven, science-based agriculture practices in the country, emphasizing the potential to significantly reduce losses within the sector. Mr. Femi Dairo, the Chief Executive Officer and Business Head at RID LAB, made this appeal during the second edition of the All Farmers Business Meeting 2.0 (AFBM) held in Ikorodu, Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, RID LAB is an Animal Diagnostic Centre and veterinary facility that focuses on the well-being of animals by providing comprehensive diagnostic services to enhance animal health and welfare. The company specializes in accurate and timely diagnostics for all species, ranging from pets to livestock.
Dairo highlighted the necessity for government intervention through the creation of enabling policies that allow science-based agriculture practices to flourish. He emphasized that one such policy should be the requirement of diagnosis before treatment in animal farming, a measure that can prevent frequent losses in the sector.
“We understand that a system of diagnosis before treatment may sometimes feel like the hours are unending. Farmers usually ask why they need to wait for hours rather than just administering drugs to the livestock. Without diagnosis, we cannot promote the sustainability we desire and we cannot hold up public health. We have seen how difficult it is when we query farmers for information, sometimes they resist, but we can show how farms that trusted diagnosis first, reduced losses. And this diagnosis has helped us solve animal health problems sustainably. We will show you how together we are protecting our food systems, safeguarding public health and shaping a profitable future. However, this vision is not for us to carry alone, we all have a role to play,” Dairo remarked.
He expressed optimism that the government would fulfill its obligations towards public health, urging regulators like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to uphold standards, prevent the misuse of antibiotics, and ensure that laboratories remain globally compliant. “We hope the media becomes the voice of truth, carrying the message to masses that science-driven farming is not a burden, but a lifeline. We want farmers to not only receive products but also the knowledge and diagnosis to use them appropriately. Farmers are at the heart of the system, your animals, your decisions and discipline shape the nation’s food systems. Diagnosis is not an afterthought but the backbone of modern agriculture,” he added.
In her keynote address, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, the Lagos State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Systems, reiterated the government’s commitment to advancing data-driven agriculture practices for the benefit of both farmers and public health. Represented by Mr. Olorunfemi Oniyide, Deputy Director of Fisheries, she commended the organizers of AFBM 2.0 for providing a platform where stakeholders can exchange ideas and develop new strategies for sustainable food systems. She emphasized the importance of facts and figures in successful farming decisions and addressed the challenge of antimicrobial resistance in agriculture.
Mrs. Adewunmi Dairo, Managing Director of Rid-Agric. Ltd., an affiliate of RID LAB, also stressed the critical role of data in the growth of the agriculture sector. She asserted that the future of agriculture must be built on data and facts, which not only tell the story but also reveal the path to profitability, sustainability, and growth.