By Palma Ileye
Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, FMAFS, in collaboration with United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Feed the Future Programme has strategized to improve agricultural extension services, enhance food production and increase income of Nigerian farmers.
Speaking during the National Impact Workshop with the theme: Innovations in Market–led Extension Service Delivery, held in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Dr. Deola- Tayo Lordbanjou stated that the collaboration would provide new business solutions, enhance economic growth, create more jobs for youth and women as well as grant access to markets for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs.
According to a press release issued by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Assistant Director, Information, For: Director, Information of the Ministry, Kyari stated that the partnership has led to improvements in extension and advisory services crucial in boosting the productivity and income of Nigerian farmers.
He revealed that, “Since 2020, we have jointly identified several impactful agricultural practices as business solutions for farmers, transforming MSMEs into key players in agricultural extension services.
“The results are also visible in the number of farmers that were reached with improved production practices, about 311 MSMEs that received different support to provide farmers with advisory services, and State’s Agricultural Development Programme.”
He noted that the partnership had facilitated the adoption of new agricultural technologies and promoted market access for farmers.
In his welcome remarks, the Director, Winrock International , Jean–Pierre Rousseau state that they have over MSMEs serving as change catalysts, bringing innovation and productivity-enhancing inputs to the doorsteps of 2 million smallholder farmers across Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger States.
He added that the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians was vital to the success of agricultural transformation.
In his presentation, Chief of Party, USAID, Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services, Dr. Ben Odoemena stated that the Extension Activity’s approach was anchored on private sector engagement with a primary focus on partnering with MSMEs and other private sector extension and market service providers to test, adapt and scale MIPs for smallholder farmers.
Odoemena explained that MIPs were business solutions or opportunities that effectively and sustainably facilitate access to agro-inputs, market, and extension messaging by smallholder farmers.
Highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Extension Knowledge Products document by the representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
In attendance were various stakeholders in the Agricultural Extension Services Sub Sector such as USAID-Feed the Future Programme, Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, Agriculture Development Programme, ADP, amongst others.