Source: Tribune Online
At a technical update meeting held in Abuja, the minister underscored the critical need to support Nigeria’s farmers, who make up roughly 70 percent of the population, through enhanced technical assistance designed to boost both crop yields and farmers’ income.
The newly proposed bill, which has successfully passed its first reading in the Senate, seeks to establish a comprehensive agricultural extension service. This initiative aims to equip farmers with technology-driven, demand-oriented support services and strengthen the capabilities of extension workers.
Central elements of the bill promote a sustainable, pluralistic extension system that brings together the public and private sectors, research institutions, and agricultural commerce. The minister emphasized the importance of skilled agents working directly in the field, stating that appropriate legislation for extension delivery would play a pivotal role in fortifying Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Dr. Salamatu Garba, Country Director of the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) and leader of the Mastercard Foundation-funded ICON2 project, observed that a well-structured extension service system would not only provide essential support to existing farmers but also attract more young people to agriculture, nurturing a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.
