In a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and food security, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has officially launched the first-ever Harmonized Extension Manual in Nigeria and the National Agricultural Extension Policy.
This milestone event took place at the ongoing 6th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week, where delegates from across Africa gathered to discuss crucial issues in the agricultural sector.
The theme of the conference, “Harnessing Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa,” aligns perfectly with the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda, emphasizing the importance of agricultural extension services in achieving sustainable agricultural practices and food security.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, highlighted the primary focus of the Harmonized Extension Manual, which is to effectively disseminate and deploy agricultural innovations and technologies to end-users using appropriate extension methods.
This initiative is expected to benefit extension administrators, Subject Matter Specialists, Extension Agents, and farmers throughout the agricultural value chains.
The National Agricultural Extension Policy aims to provide a pragmatic, effective, and efficient demand-driven, pluralistic, ICT-enabled, and market-oriented extension service to all stakeholders, including youths, women, and individuals with special needs.
This policy seeks to optimize resources and promote sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development in Nigeria. Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving food security, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The government’s goal is to develop the agricultural sector to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to zero hunger and improving agriculture and rural productivity. Nigeria’s current strategy is to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and reduce dependency on food imports.
The Minister expressed the government’s openness to suggestions that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, and he hopes the conference will generate actionable solutions to the country’s agricultural challenges. Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi extended his appreciation to the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) and development partners, including USAID, GIZ, IFPRI, and others, for their support in organizing this conference.
Their collective efforts culminated in the production of the Harmonized Extension Manual and the National Extension Policy Document, both of which were officially launched during the event.
The Minister concluded by declaring the Sixth Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week Conference open, wishing all participants a fruitful week-long deliberation as they work together to shape the future of agricultural extension services in Africa. This historic launch represents a significant step towards advancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector and achieving food security.
