The Federal Government, in partnership with agricultural development organisations, has commenced a week-long training for 100 agricultural extension master-trainers as part of efforts to accelerate the adoption of modern farming technologies across Nigeria.
The training, which began in Dutse, Jigawa State, is being organised by the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, CGIAR’s Scaling for Impact Programme, Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) and other research organisations.
The extension officers were drawn from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, with participants coming from both public and private agricultural organisations.
Held under the theme, “Empowering Extension to Scale Agricultural Innovations,” the programme is designed to strengthen agricultural extension services and address challenges including shortages of extension agents, inadequate funding, limited technical capacity, logistics constraints and poor access to digital advisory platforms.
The 100 master-trainers are expected to train frontline extension workers and farmer organisations through a cascade model that could ultimately reach at least 500,000 farmers.
For smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, the programme is expected to improve access to practical information on technologies that can increase productivity, reduce production losses and strengthen their ability to respond to climate and market challenges.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Director-General of JATA, Dr Saifullahi Umar, said strengthening extension services was critical to closing the gap between agricultural research and farmers.
Umar, who spoke on behalf of the Jigawa State Government, said Nigeria has several improved agricultural technologies but faces challenges in ensuring farmers receive the right information at the right time.
He identified improved maize hybrids, stress-tolerant rice and wheat varieties, climate information, mechanisation, integrated pest management, irrigation and improved post-harvest practices as some of the technologies that could raise farm productivity.
Jigawa has also recruited and trained 1,700 extension personnel and provided motorcycles to improve their mobility and contact with farmers, he said.
The state is establishing Agricultural Development and Farm Service Centres where farmers can access extension advice, agricultural inputs, mechanisation services, market information and financial referrals.
Umar added that Jigawa had established a farm mechanisation company with 400 tractors, harvesters and other equipment, while 6,000 solar-powered irrigation systems are being deployed to support dry-season farming.
The training will cover climate-smart agriculture, soil health, improved seed systems, pest and disease management, digital agriculture, market linkages and farmer-centred extension.
Participants will also be trained on mobile advisory platforms, geographic information systems, remote sensing and data tools, giving extension workers additional digital tools to support farmers and improve access to agricultural information.
Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse, Dr Solomon Gizaw, said stronger extension services were essential to translating agricultural innovations into improved productivity and livelihoods.
The initiative is linked to the African Development Bank’s $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility and Nigeria’s NAGS-AP programme, strengthening efforts to improve food production while supporting farmers and businesses across the agricultural value chain.