Abuja:The Federal Government has emphasized the importance of treating agricultural extension as critical infrastructure to enhance productivity and achieve food security across Africa. This message was delivered by Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, during the Africa Agribusiness Extension Summit 2026 organized by Extension Africa in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Kyari highlighted that Africa cannot rely solely on expanding farmland to feed its projected 2.5 billion population by 2050. Instead, increasing productivity through improved access to knowledge and advisory services is essential. He advocated for agricultural extension to be regarded as infrastructure, similar to roads and power lines, emphasizing its long-term importance.
Kyari also underscored the role of technology, urging Africa to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agricultural extension while ensuring it complements professional extension workers. He stressed the need for digital systems to protect farmers’ data and leverage basic communication technologies like SMS and USSD.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s history of agricultural extension, Kyari noted the once-respected sector’s decline due to inadequate financing, leading to a shortage of extension agents. He pointed out that one agent now serves thousands of farmers, making effective service delivery challenging.
Kyari shared that in the early 2010s, the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) successfully used technology to respond to farmer inquiries. He noted the potential for current technology to provide farmers with valuable information such as weather alerts and market data.
The Nigerian government has taken steps to improve agricultural extension, deploying over 1,000 digital extension agents and creating a digital platform to communicate with farmers in multiple languages. A steering committee has been established to harmonize extension initiatives across various agencies.
Kyari praised states like Jigawa, Kano, and Oyo for their investment in extension services. Jigawa recruited over 1,500 agents and provided them with motorcycles, while Kano and Oyo have also made efforts to enhance their extension services.
He emphasized the importance of designing extension systems that cater to young people and women, citing the establishment of Women in Agriculture units as a step towards addressing historical neglect. Lastly, Kyari called for shared African standards for agricultural extension, highlighting the sector’s crucial role in employment and food security across the continent.