FG Trains 100 Extension Workers, Target 500,000 Farmers Via Step-Down Trainings

News in Brief

— Nigeria's agriculture ministry and TAAT trained 100 extension "master trainers" from seven states, aiming to reach 500,000 Nigerian farmers through step-down sessions.

— The workshop targeted Nigeria's severe extension-worker shortage, which leaves the average agent serving thousands more farmers than international benchmarks recommend.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the AfDB’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and other development partners, trained 100 agricultural extension workers from several states to extend the training through step-down sessions to 500,000 farmers across the country.

The one-week-long “National Training Workshop for Extension Master Trainers” held at the Manpower Development Centre in Dutse, Jigawa State, gathered extension officers from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states for a training on modern farming technologies and practices.

According to the organisers, the 100 participants would go on to train frontline extension workers and farmer organisations to reach the target.

Targeting Nigeria’s Extension Gap

Nigeria has a significant agricultural extension service gap, with many LGAs having fewer than one agent per 1,000–3,000 farmers, well below FAO’s recommended 1:800. This deficiency has impacted agricultural productivity, with low adoption of improved seeds and agronomic practices leading to low yields and persisting post-harvest losses.

A recent study by a Nigerian professor also found that Nigeria’s weak extension service limits access to information, technology and advisory services for women, youth and underserved groups in the country.

This training targets these challenges affecting agricultural extension services in Nigeria, including inadequate funding, limited technical capacity, logistics challenges and poor access to digital advisory platforms.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Director-General of Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), Dr Saifullahi Umar, stated that the initiative was important in bridging the gap between agricultural research and farmers.

Umar explained that while Nigeria has several improved agricultural technologies, access to the right information for farmers at the right time is a significant problem.

Empowering Extension to Scale Innovation

The workshop themed “Empowering Extension to Scale Agricultural Innovations” was executed in collaboration with the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), the CGIAR’s Scaling for Impact Programme, and other research organisations.

Leveraging TAAT's expertise in Maize, Rice and Wheat Compacts, participants learned more sweeping approaches and innovations relevant to climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural production in the subject areas.

The training also covered issues such as soil health, improved seed systems, pest and disease management, digital agriculture, market linkages and farmer-centred extension. 

Participants also learned to use mobile advisory platforms, geographic information systems, remote sensing and data tools.

Also speaking at the workshop, Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse, Dr Solomon Gizaw, said strengthening extension services was crucial to translating agricultural innovations into improved productivity and livelihoods.

The programme is linked to the AfDB’s $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility and Nigeria’s NAGS-AP programme.