ABU Vice Chancellor laments over agric extension services

·         *FG advocates PPP commercialization

The Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba has expressed dissatisfaction on the state of Nigerian agricultural extension services for not being properly mobilized to exhaustively galvanise food security in the country, just as the Federal Government (FG) is ready to adopt the option of Public- Private- Partnership (PPP) to overcome this particular challenge towards ensuring adequate technologies transfer to farmers.

 This  was disclosed during a recently held 2019 Annual National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting with the theme: “Paradigm Shift for a Sustainable Agricultural Extension Delivery System in Nigeria’’  organised by the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaisons Services (NAERLS), Zaria.

 Prof. Ibrahim Garba who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Zubair Abubakar  identified extension as the main driver of the agriculture sector of the economy, but however lamented the inadequate harmonisation and coordination of extension,  saying that the extension services is weakened due to poor funding , under-staffing and other challenges.

The VC therefore advocated that both research and extension services be repositioned towards addressing specific needs of farmers and industries for more economic gains and job creation.

Speaking on the occasion , the Director, Extension Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) , Dr. Karima Babangida, represented by the Deputy Director, Federal Department of Agric Extension Services,  Dr. Nngozi Odunze  said that privatization of extension service delivery has been considered lately as the only option to remedy the low funding and overall administration of extension services towards effectiveness technologies transfer for improved food productivity adding that PPP extension entailed synergy between the Governor and private sector.

According to him ‘’the success of effective agricultural extension service delivery is therefore dependent on partnership and complimentary actions of public and private sector. But for partnership between public and private extension activities to yield the desired results, government needs to organize national and regional platforms and workshops to discuss and determine with major stakeholders who will be responsible for which areas, and for what purposes’’

He added that the ministry is committed to educating farmers on the right technologies to adopt in their production, processing, packaging and marketing operations towards production of improved produce, generate employment and create wealth for the nation.

The Executive Director (ED), NAERLS, Prof. Mohammed Khalid-Othman said that the extension review and planning meeting is a very important platform where national issues on Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System( REFILS) are being reviewed against the coming year.

 

Prof. Othman said it is important  that all registered improved technologies  that are in the Research Institutes’ shelves be moved to farmers at the grassroots,  thereby emphasizing the need why the Agricultural Development Programmes ( ADP) at all the states levels  must partner with his Institute to ensure effective transfer to farmers.   

NAERLS boss  said that the issue of funding the ADPs  is difficult to address because state government under Federal system of government cannot be forced to allocate money for such purpose except  they want to do it stressed policy makers must understand that adequate funding of extension services would definitely lift up about 70% of people out of poverty.