Nigeria’s food security at risk with 1 extension agent to 10,000 farmers – NGO warns

Amidst escalating climate challenges and growing concerns over food security, Extension Africa, a leading agricultural organization, has stressed the role of modern agribusiness extension services in fostering sustainable agriculture across Africa.

In a press briefing in Abuja, Tajudeen Yahaya, Managing Director and Co-founder of Extension Africa, warned that low food production and high prices would persist if adequate attention were not given to agricultural extension services.

Yahaya lamented the severe shortage of extension service officers, who are critical in guiding farmers and stakeholders across various value chains with the best farming practices to improve productivity.

“The challenges we always have with the public extension system are threefold. First, we have only one agent for every 10,000 farmers, making it nearly impossible for such an officer to effectively reach all farmers. Secondly, many of our extension workers, employed back in the 1990s, are retiring, which means that the current ratio might worsen to one agent for 20,000 farmers in the next five years if nothing is done,” Yahaya stated.

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He added that public-private partnerships are crucial in addressing these challenges, The Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of Extension Africa, Isah Abdulsamad, stressed the importance of strengthening connections with smallholder farmers and rural communities for sustainable results.

He further noted the success of the Farmer Business Associate (FBA) model, which has improved productivity and market access for farmers. “The FBA model is transformative, creating youth employment and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies,” Abdulsamad added.

They all stressed the importance of learning from past initiatives and adopting effective solutions to connect smallholder farmers with essential resources, underlining that modern extension services are key to driving long-term agricultural growth and food security in Africa.