The Federal Government has called for a shift from the traditional supply-driven agricultural extension system to a demand-driven model that provides Nigerian farmers with accurate information based on their specific needs.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, made the call at the Africa Agribusiness Extension Summit, where stakeholders discussed ways to develop sustainable agricultural advisory infrastructure across Africa.
Abdullahi said agricultural extension services should begin with an understanding of farmers, what they produce and the markets available for their products.
According to him, simply giving farmers large amounts of information is no longer enough. The information provided must be relevant, verified and connected to the actual needs of farmers.
He also expressed concern about the growing amount of unreliable agricultural information available to farmers, particularly with the increasing use of artificial intelligence.
The minister warned that AI could make it easier for people to create false information, including what he described as “phantom farms” and misleading agricultural knowledge.
He therefore called for farmers to be connected with verified and certified extension officers who can provide reliable advice.
Abdullahi said repeated access to genuine information would help farmers develop confidence in the agricultural extension system.
He explained that when farmers receive accurate advice consistently, trust can be established, while the extension system can also become more effective and credible.
Another major issue raised by the minister was the connection between agricultural production and the market.
He said extension services cannot be separated from market demand because farmers need to know what consumers and buyers want before deciding what and how to produce.
He cited commodities such as sesame seeds and hibiscus as examples of Nigerian agricultural products with strong export demand.
According to him, farmers seeking to take advantage of international markets must understand the quality standards and other requirements expected by buyers.
He said information about product quality, traceability and market requirements should therefore be part of agricultural extension services.
The minister noted that farmers could produce large quantities of crops but still lose access to markets if their products do not meet the required standards.
He also stressed the importance of considering Nigeria’s different agroecological zones when providing agricultural advice.
Nigeria has different farming environments, and farming practices suitable for one region may not necessarily produce the same results in another.
Abdullahi said extension services must therefore provide information that is appropriate for the different environments in which Nigerian farmers operate.
The government is also working to strengthen the practical training of agricultural students.
The minister disclosed that the curriculum for diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes in agriculture had been reviewed.
Under the revised curriculum, practical work is expected to account for 70 per cent of course content.
The move is intended to give agricultural students more hands-on experience and improve the connection between classroom learning and actual farming practices.
Other stakeholders at the summit also called for greater use of technology in agricultural extension.
Extension Africa’s Chief Operating Officer and co-founder, Isa Abdulsamad, advocated increased use of artificial intelligence to deliver agricultural advice, including through basic mobile phones and smartphones.
Technology could allow farmers in rural communities to receive information in local languages, making extension services more accessible.
Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari also recently described agricultural extension as critical infrastructure for improving food security across Africa. He said digital systems should complement professional extension workers rather than replace them.
The Federal Government’s renewed focus on agricultural extension comes as Nigeria continues to seek ways to increase food production, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen food security.
For farmers, access to the right information can affect decisions ranging from where to cultivate and which inputs to use to how to manage crops and meet market standards.
The government is therefore seeking a system where agricultural advice is not simply distributed widely but delivered according to the actual needs of farmers.
If effectively implemented, the demand-driven approach could help improve the relationship between farmers, extension officers and agricultural markets while reducing the impact of unreliable information.
