The Managing Director of Extension Africa, Tajudeen Yahaya, has linked poor farm yields to a shortage of agricultural extension workers. Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, Yahaya highlighted that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recommendation of one extension worker for every 800 farmers is unrealistic and burdensome, making it difficult for workers to adequately support farmers.
Yahaya proposed reducing the ratio to one extension worker for every 200 farmers, arguing that this would enable agents to better understand farmers’ challenges and provide timely solutions. “Our approach is 1 agent to 200 farmers. We have found that this ratio is sustainable and effective,” he stated.
He emphasized the historical importance of agricultural extension services in connecting farmers with essential knowledge and technologies that enhance productivity. However, he pointed out that traditional extension methods have struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing agricultural landscape and the increasing needs of farmers and agribusinesses.
Yahaya identified three major issues with the current public extension system: the availability of quality extension workers in rural areas (with some areas having a ratio of 1 agent to 10,000 farmers), the reliability of these workers in delivering quality services, and the lack of a commercial system to sustain their operations.
He also highlighted the critical role of public-private partnerships in transforming the agricultural industry, citing successful collaborations between governments, NGOs, and private sector players, such as the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which has trained over 15,000 extension workers and benefited more than 8 million farmers.
In addition, Isah Abdulsamad, the Chief Operating Officer, announced the launch of a new app designed to assist farmers. “We are redefining how we connect with farmers. Our mobile platforms now provide real-time weather forecasts, pest and disease alerts, and tailored agronomic advice to over 400,000 farmers, improving crop yields by up to 30% in some areas,” Abdulsamad said.
He emphasized the importance of training in good agricultural practices, business skills, and building trust between agents and farmers. Abdulsamad also noted that the training content is delivered in audio-visual formats to accommodate different levels of literacy among agents.
