By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Professor Kabiru Bala has said that the sustainability of development in the agric sector can largely be achieved through an effective agricultural extension system.
He stated this at the annual National Agricultural Extension Review and pylanning Meeting held at NAERLS, Zaria.
Prof. Bala said this underscores the need to harmonise and coordinate their efforts in research and extension to achieve the set outcomes, duplication of research efforts among the different National Agricultural Research Institute (NARIS) undermines real economic development.
He said extension delivery institutions , especially Agricultural Development programmes (ADPs) have been weakened by poor funding, poor staffing and several other challenges .
According to him, there is the need to focus research and extension efforts on addressing the specific demands of the farmers and industries.
Kabir Bala also said that despite its size and institutional capacity, NARIL has not been able to evolve sustainable agricultural growth that sufficiently addresses national and household food security, creates wealth and employment that will make Nigeria a competitor in the global food market .
In his message, the director Federal Department of Agric Extension (FDAE), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Engineer Frank S. Nkudla said research and agric extension services are vital forces to the effective development of value chains in the world and Nigeria in particular.
Engr Nkudia said his department has commenced the training of 75,000 extension agents who are the main drivers of innovation and technology from research institutions to farmers and convey feedbacks from the fields to research institutes.
According to him, the first batch of 1,480 Extension Agents were successfully trained in March 2021 and each participant was given a starter pack.
He reassured NAERLS that FDAE will continue to support it in moving agricultural development foward.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director NAERLS, Professor Emmanuel Ikani said the institute has been in the forefront of promoting government policies and expanding the frontiers of extension delivery and advisory services in Nigeria with many success stories.
He said NAERLS has consistently repositioned it’s institutional mechanisms to engaged emerging variables that may challenge focus in actualizing their national mandates.
