- Highlights National Electronic Extension Platform as a Game Changer for Farmers
- Urges Stakeholders to Bridge Digital Divide, Strengthen Policies for Sustainable Agriculture
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, has called for a digital revolution in agricultural extension services to enhance knowledge transfer, improve farm productivity, and ensure food security across Nigeria. Speaking at the Summit on Sustainable Agricultural Extension Services Delivery in Nigeria: The Role of Digital Technology, held from February 26 to 27, 2025, at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, he emphasized the necessity of leveraging technology to bridge the gap between research institutions and farmers.
The summit, convened at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s agricultural development, brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, extension officers, private sector players, and civil society organizations. It provided a platform for discussions on modernizing agricultural extension services through digital tools, particularly the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP).
Prof. Sharubutu highlighted NEEP as a landmark initiative spearheaded by the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension to revolutionize how farmers access information, technical support, and market linkages. The platform will utilize real-time data, artificial intelligence, and mobile connectivity to ensure farmers regardless of their location, receive timely advisory services. He emphasized that digital extension services must be inclusive, multilingual, and affordable to reach smallholder farmers in remote communities.
He outlined ARCN’s strides in modernizing agricultural research dissemination and extension services, including the establishment of Nigerian Agricultural Television (ARCN TV) and Radio, the Adopted Villages and Agricultural Research Outreach Centers (AROCs), and the Integrated e-Library Initiative, which facilitates knowledge-sharing among researchers. The council is also working to digitize research findings from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) for easy accessibility.
He stressed the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in agricultural extension, integrating public institutions, private enterprises, civil society organizations, and digital platforms to ensure a demand-driven advisory system. He further called for urgent measures to bridge the digital divide, including investments in connectivity infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordable access to smart farming technologies.
To sustain these efforts, he urged the government to establish a dedicated fund for agricultural research and development, strengthen public-private partnerships, and work closely with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to expand initiatives like the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), a data-driven platform for digital agricultural transformation.
Prof. Sharubutu concluded by emphasizing that the success of NEEP will be measured by its impact on farmers, agricultural value chains, and national food security, rather than its launch alone. He urged stakeholders to take actionable steps to implement the summit’s recommendations, ensuring that digital agricultural extension becomes a practical reality rather than an aspirational goal.
The summit ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to working collaboratively toward a digitally enabled, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural extension system that will enhance Nigeria’s food security and economic prosperity.
