Stakeholders synergise on food system transformation

Stakeholders in agriculture have expressed commitment to explore the digital extension services to mitigate challenges in the agricultural sub-sector to boost food production and national economy.

They made the commitment at the Annual Workshop  for Agric stakeholders  organised by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The workshop is themed “Transforming the Agricultural Landscape through Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services”.

Makoto Kitanala, President of SAA, identified digital agriculture extension as essential to agriculture development.

He said the move would improve productivity and build resilience food system that could withstand the challenges of climate change.

Kitanala said there was need to embrace digital innovation holistically to integrate climate-smart and resilient agriculture practices.

“Digital agricultural extension service offers a powerful avenue to revolutionalise agriculture in Nigeria, overcome production limitations and reach remote farmers.

“Modern technologies, interactive platforms and digital extension can deliver basic information on best practices, market price and weather forecast directly on the farmers’ finger prints.

“This approach facilitates rapid knowledge dissemination, enable real time problem solving and foster data driven decision making.

“Ultimately it will empower Nigerian farmers for enhance productivity, livelihood and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable agriculture landscape,” Kitanala said.

Mr Olawumi Ayodele, Director, Extension Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said the ministry was currently implementing the revitalisation of the Nigerian National Agriculture Extension System under the Agricultural Technology and Innovative policy.

Ayodele identified digital extension service delivery as the way forward in agricultural transformation.

“We are looking at opportunity to ensure that the privately-led extension service is integrated effectively into the system

“At the moment, most of the private operators in the field are not properly implemented,” he said.

Speaking, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, said there was need for increased intervention and continuous support towards digital extension services.

Represented by Dr Farouk Kurawa, the Director General, Kano State Agriculture and Rural Development, Yusuf appreciated SAA for boosting agriculture productivity in the state via innovative technology.

He expressed the state government’s readiness to collaborate with SAA and other partners to integrate digital extension services across agriculture sector in the country for enhanced food productivity.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi