The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, has launched the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP), a digital initiative to improve productivity and farmers’ livelihood, as well as enhance agricultural extension service delivery.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the National Agricultural Extension Research Summit with the Theme: “Sustainable Agriculture Extension Service Delivery in Nigeria,” held in Abuja recently, the minister stated that the platform would strengthen the linkage between research institutions and Nigerian farmers.
Abdullahi revealed that NEEP is designed to work with the National Agricultural and Extension System (NARES) and other relevant institutions to address the low extension agent to farmers.
The minister stated that the Platform would provide real time access to vital agricultural information, offering an interactive and cost effective alternative to traditional extension services while mitigating security risks faced by field agents.
He said: ”Farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector will now have access to good and impactful agricultural information on real-time basis as the platform is interactive, cost effective, and bypasses the risk of insecurity associated with extension service delivery in the country.”
He stated that the ministry had deployed technologies to improve labour productivity through distribution of tractors for land preparation, planting and harvesting.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, highlighted the historical challenges faced by Nigeria’s extension services due to inconsistent policies, inadequate funding, and limited technological adoption.
He stated that despite past shortcomings, the use of digital technology, as outlined in the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022-2027, presented a significant opportunity for improvement and noting that adequate funding and effective deployment of digital tools will ensure greater results.
In his welcome address, the Director of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service, Dr. Deola Tayo Lordbanjou, emphasised the critical role of agricultural extension services in translating research findings, innovative practices, and new technologies into practical solutions for farmers.
He added that research is crucial to the agricultural development of any nation and that the beauty of the efforts made by Agricultural Research Institutes is fully realised through a well-structured extension service.
Lordbanjou explained: ‘’The NEEP platform would be accessible in English, pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo languages, even farmers with limited formal education can benefit.
‘’Farmers will be able to ask questions and receive real time answers, while agents will have a database of agricultural knowledge at their fingertips.”
In his presentation, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, stated that the need to review the achievements in agricultural research and extension activities cannot be over emphasised.
“We must be proactive and take immediate steps to address the food security crisis by encouraging more farmers to engage in irrigation farming, conducting advocacy, sensitization campaign, and providing farmers with the farm inputs,” he stressed.
Highlight of the event was the launch of the NEEP by the Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary and other dignitaries.
In attendance were the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of Agriculture, Deans of Faculties of Agriculture, Project Managers of the Agricultural Development Programmes, representative of the World Bank, and others.
