By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
Heightened incidents of insecurity (kidnappings, theft, banditry, cattle rustling, herders/farmers clashes etc.) have affected extension service delivery across the nation.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 2023 National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting held at NAERLS/ABU Zaria.
The stakeholders expressed concern over extremely Low Extension Agent (EA) to farmer ratio (1:6,238 National average as against 1:800 as recommended by the World Bank) because of non-recruitment of new extension workers.
The communique also observed that Issues of food security are multifaceted, ranging from prevalence of undernourishment, child mortality, high susceptibility to diseases, increased social discontent, severe poverty
and illiteracy.
“Also, high cost of farm inputs, labour and produce due to inflation and poor funding of ADPs and workers inventive.
“Inadequate support for research and development has been identified and inconsistency and poor implementation of government policies.
“While issues on food security are multifaceted ranging from prevalence of undernourishment, child mortality, high susceptibility to diseases, increased social discontent, severe poverty
and illiteracy,” it said.
The communique suggested that the federal and state governments should partner with private manufacturing companies to produce tractors and simple labour-saving devices, using prototypes from National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM).
It also observed that provision of infrastructure and development of efficient irrigation systems will encourage all year-round agricultural production.
They observed that government should increase support for research, development and promotion of livestock and improved crop that are resistant to pests and diseases.
“Facilitating farmers access to financial and insurance service providers and markets for agricultural produce.
“Investment in access roads, post harvest equipment, storage facilities for crops and livestock to enhance productivity and efficiency.
“Enhance availability and adoption of climate smart agricultural technologies (resilient varieties, breeds and practices).
“All tiers of government should make more efforts to tackle the menace of insecurity in Nigeria.
“Government should ensure that most agricultural inputs are produced locally and subsidized and to encourage public and private partnership in extension service delivery using micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) driven extension approach.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security should advocate for accelerated passage of the new agricultural extension policy into law.
“Government should establish an Extension Trust fund and be consistent in their agricultural policies and implementations,” the communique said.
