Modern Extension Services Essential For Sustainable Agriculture In Africa

Amidst escalating climate challenges and growing food security concerns, Extension Africa has highlighted the crucial role of modern agribusiness extension services in advancing sustainable agriculture across the continent.

These services, which integrate innovative technologies with traditional farming methods, are revolutionising agricultural productivity, enhancing resource management, and aiding farmers in adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

At a press briefing in Abuja, managing director and co-founder of Extension Africa, Tajudeen Yahaya, emphasised the importance of modern agribusiness extension services in overcoming challenges and promoting sustainable agriculture throughout Africa.

Yahaya recognised the valuable contributions of traditional agricultural extension services but pointed out their limitations in meeting evolving farmer needs.

“Challenges such as a shortage of qualified extension workers, reliability issues, and insufficient funding often undermine their effectiveness,” he noted.

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“Public-private partnerships are making significant strides in this area. For instance, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has trained over 15,000 extension workers, benefiting more than 8 million farmers. Collaborations in regions like Gombe and Adamawa with organisations such as Mercy Corps are equipping farmers with knowledge on sustainable practices and essential resources.

“Modern extension services are transforming agriculture through digital technology. Mobile platforms now offer real-time weather updates, pest alerts, and personalised advice to over 400,000 farmers, leading to yield increases of up to 30% in some areas. The Agribusiness Extension Academy’s training programs, which focus on climate-smart practices and digital skills, align with the Federal Government’s goal of creating 100,000 extension workers,” he added.

Yahaya stressed the need to scale these initiatives to reach all farmers, which requires increased investment in infrastructure, cross-sector collaboration, and ongoing innovation. He said the aim is to empower farmers with the tools and knowledge to enhance productivity, improve livelihoods, and strengthen food security across the continent.

In related development, Isah Abdulsamad, COO and co-founder of Extension Africa, highlighted Nigeria’s agricultural innovation network, which includes over 23 specialised organisations.

He discussed the limitations of the current extension system and advocated for a hybrid approach combining technology with traditional methods. The Farmer Business Associate (FBA) model, piloted in Nigeria since 2021, has shown success in improving productivity and market access, resulting in better outcomes for farmers and integration into the market.

“Nigeria has an estimated 35 to 38 million smallholder farmers producing over 70% of the nation’s food. However, the current ratio of one extension agent per 10,000 farmers, compared to the FAO recommendation of 1:500, severely limits the government’s support for this crucial sector. Although private entities and development partners have contributed significantly, government funding remains inadequate to reach all farmers through the existing extension system.

“Despite the benefits of technology, challenges such as limited internet access, low smartphone ownership, and literacy levels in rural Nigeria create significant barriers. Thus, a hybrid approach combining technological solutions with traditional outreach methods is essential to bridge this gap.

“For sustainable results, governments and organisations must strengthen connections with smallholder farmers and rural communities, prioritise traceability, and build on existing relationships. A robust feedback mechanism is critical to identifying ineffective projects, reallocating resources, and focusing on initiatives with real impact.

“The FBA model is transformative, enhancing productivity and helping farmers adapt to climate change. This business-to-business model addresses the agent-to-farmer ratio, creates youth employment, and incentivises agents through commissions. It promotes the adoption of innovative technologies and improves access to quality inputs and services. Since 2021, we have worked with partners like AGRA, Mercy Corps, Heifer International, IITA, and SAA to test and refine the FBA model in Nigeria.”

Abdulsamad stressed the importance of learning from past initiatives and adopting effective solutions to connect smallholder farmers with essential resources.

Ifeoma Okoro, Business Development Extension Africa, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to bridging the gap between smallholder farmers, businesses, government agencies, private institutions, and development agencies.