Nigeria’s agric sector faces climate change, digital limitations, funding pressures

Nigeria’s agric sector faces climate change, digital limitations, funding pressures

As stakeholders chart new path at 2025 Extension Review meeting held NAERLS

Nigeria’s agricultural sector is facing increasing pressure from climate change, digital limitations and chronic underfunding, as highlighted at the 2025 National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting (NAERPM), which ended in Zaria on 4th December 2025. 

The four-day meeting, held at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, brought together 229 participants drawn from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), AGRA, Sasakawa Africa Association, seed companies, persons with disabilities, farmer groups and other development agencies.

Declaring the meeting open, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Raymond Bako, stressed the importance of the gathering in strengthening the nation’s extension architecture.

In his welcome address, the Director of NAERLS, Prof Yusuf Ahmed Sani, described the annual review as a critical platform for harmonizing extension strategies that respond to Nigeria’s evolving agricultural challenges. 

Keynote presentations were delivered by Dr Godwin Atser, Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association; and Dr. Samuel Ankeli, former Senior Special Adviser to the President on People with Disabilities. 

Over the course of the meeting, 26 ADPs and 11 NARIs presented their extension reports, which were technically reviewed, leading to the adoption of a harmonized 2026 calendar of extension activities.

Participants expressed deep concern over the devastating effects of climate change on Nigeria’s farming systems, noting that flood related losses now exceed ₦700 billion annually, with farmers grappling with irregular rainfall, heat stress, pest outbreaks, soil degradation, recurrent flooding and climate induced conflicts. 

They also observed that unreliable internet access, low digital literacy and minimal use of smartphones for agricultural purposes continue to hinder e-extension service delivery. 

The meeting further noted that women, youth and persons with disabilities remained key contributors to agriculture but still faced systemic barriers in accessing land, credit, technology and training.

Stakeholders lamented the extremely low extension worker-to-farmer ratio of 1:6,466 far below the FAO recommendation of 1:800.

They warned that the gap continued to weaken advisory services and reduce productivity.

Concerns were also raised about chronic underfunding of the agricultural sector, with only 2–3% of the national budget allocated to agriculture and a mere 4–8% of that reaching extension services.

Participants noted that delayed release of research funds severely hampered innovation.

Rising input costs, decreasing farm-gate prices, insecurity across farming communities, infrastructural decay, and the appointment of non professionals to key agricultural roles were also cited as major obstacles.

To address these issues, the meeting recommended intensified development and dissemination of climate-smart technologies, improved digital literacy for farmers, and targeted empowerment programmes for women, youth and persons with disabilities. 

It also called for the recruitment of more extension agents, increased reliance on e-extension tools and farm radio, adequate budgetary allocation and timely release of funds, strengthened farmer outreach mechanisms, strict regulation to ensure subsidized inputs reach genuine farmers, and improved infrastructure and rural security. 

The stakeholders further emphasized the need for professionalism in the appointment of agricultural personnel.

At the end of the meeting, a committee chaired by Dr. Habib N. Abubakar of NCRI, was constituted to consolidate the outcomes and guide follow-up actions. 

Other members were drawn from IAR, NIFFR, ADPs, LCRI and NAERLS, with Mahmud M. Abdulshakur of NAERLS, serving as secretary.