Agricultural Extension Service Bill Scales First Reading

The Agricultural Extension Service Bill, 2024 (SB. 646) has passed its first reading on the floor of the Senate.

The bill sponsored by Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, aimed to strengthen agricultural extension services and support smallholder farmers to improve productivity and ensure food security.

The (WOFAN-ICON-2) and agricultural extension stakeholders sponsored bill also targets to strengthen the capacity of extension workers to deliver advanced, technology-driven, and demand-oriented services.

Senator Mustapha while speaking on the objectives of the bill noted that it will ensure the effective implementation of the National Agricultural Extension Policy and Strategy and to establish a legal framework for sustainable agricultural extension services in Nigeria.

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The lawmakers further noted that the bill will further create a sustainable, harmonised, pluralistic, and demand-driven e-agricultural extension system that will ensure efficient service delivery across the agricultural value chain.

LEADERSHIP recalled that the minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi  during a  technical update meeting held in Abuja recently, commended the efforts of WOFAN-ICON2 project, NAERLS  and other stakeholders in putting the draft bill together.

Senator Abdullahi who contributed effectively during the meeting also noted that about 70 per cent of the population are involved in agriculture and further emphasised that  it is important to ensure they receive the kind of technical support they need to be able to achieve optimal outputs and good income.

The minister said, “Extension Agents don’t just show farmers Good agronomic practices, they step down successful research results and new innovative techniques to farmers for improved outputs.

Extension Agents are very positive additions to how farmers are supposed to operate. And so, to me the proposed bill will be a game changer.’’

Speaking on the development, WOFAN- ICON2 country director, Dr Salamatu Garba said, “this effort of reading the bill is quite timely because it’s time to support our agricultural  research institutions,  as our  country cannot achieve much if the institutions  are not supported enough to  produce  desired extension workers to boost food security.’’