Nigeria seeks farmer-led agricultural extension system tied to market demand

Nigeria’s Federal Government has called for agricultural extension services to be redesigned around farmers’ demands and market requirements, rather than relying mainly on the one-way supply of information. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari made the proposal on Wednesday at the Africa Agribusiness Extension Summit, where participants discussed sustainable agricultural advisory infrastructure across the continent. Kyari said extension planning should begin by identifying farmers, understanding what they produce and assessing the markets seeking those products.

He warned that information provided without regard to farmers’ circumstances or willingness to use it would have little effect. The minister also called for farmers to be connected with verified and certified extension agents. He said this would help limit inaccurate information, including material generated through artificial intelligence, and enable farmers to receive reliable advice repeatedly.

In his view, consistent and genuine information could build trust and strengthen the integrity of the extension system. Kyari said a demand-led model would not work without accessible and developed markets. He cited sesame seed and hibiscus as Nigerian commodities with export demand, but cautioned that farmers could suffer losses if they entered such markets without understanding buyers’ requirements.

He said producers needed to know what could lead to a product being rejected and what specifications buyers expected. He urged advisory services to cover the production process from farm-site selection through land preparation, input application, weeding and other practices. He also identified traceability as a key market requirement and said information should be presented in a form farmers could understand.

The minister added that Nigeria’s advisory infrastructure would need to reflect the country’s diverse agroecological zones.