By Comrade Martins, Abantlehe
Since 2020, the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity has transformed Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
Jointly funded by USAID and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), this five-year programme aims to revolutionise agricultural extension, specifically by empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to deliver critical support to smallholder farmers.
Through innovative partnerships and hands-on training, the programme has reached over two million smallholder farmers in Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger states, driving agricultural productivity, job creation, and climate-smart farming.
As this impactful programme nears its conclusion, it is essential for policymakers, NGOs, agricultural firms, and financial institutions to build on the insights it has provided.
With a National Impact Workshop upcoming, it is an ideal time to reflect on how these advances can be scaled nationally and ensure that the agriculture sector remains a central engine for Nigeria’s sustainable growth.
At the heart of this initiative lies a simple but powerful approach: empower MSMEs. The Feed the Future Extension Activity has strengthened 311 MSMEs, equipping them with the training and resources to bring to market 39 “Most Impactful Practices” (MIPs), optimised to maximise farming efficiency and profitability.
By supporting these enterprises to provide vital inputs and knowledge, smallholder farmers—who make up the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy—have seen over a 100% increase in productivity and income.
The transformative potential of MSMEs in rural agriculture cannot be overstated. As agents who understand local dynamics and cultural nuances, MSMEs play a crucial role in reaching farmers with the specific resources and insights they need.
Through programmes like Feed the Future, these enterprises can continue to help unlock the productivity of Nigeria’s rural communities.
One of the programme’s greatest achievements has been creating 1,088 jobs, primarily for young people, to meet the growing demand for agricultural inputs and services.
With the right support, youth are proving to be powerful catalysts for change, eager to apply modern farming techniques and entrepreneurial skills that revitalise rural economies.
This momentum is vital for reducing youth unemployment, which remains one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges.
Take Sarah, a young entrepreneur in Cross River, who transformed her small business through training from the Extension Activity. Today, she employs five people, bringing fresh, organic produce to local markets.
Stories like Sarah’s highlight how investing in youth can pave the way for vibrant agricultural communities, resilient against economic uncertainty.
Digital integration has also been a game-changer in Nigeria’s extension services, thanks to collaborations between universities and Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs).
By incorporating digital tools into agricultural curricula, extension officers and farmers alike are now better equipped to access information and resources remotely.
For Dr. Amadi, an agricultural extension officer, this shift has revolutionised outreach, “we can now reach more farmers more effectively and efficiently, ensuring they have the knowledge they need to succeed”.
With digital tools, extension services become agile, data-driven, and capable of responding to farmers’ needs in real time.
The inclusion of these tools in formal education signals a long-term commitment to a digitally savvy agricultural workforce.
However, as digital services expand, we must ensure that these tools are accessible to farmers across diverse communities.
More than 70 percent of the extension activity’s practices are climate-smart, helping farmers adapt to climate change while protecting local ecosystems. This focus on climate resilience is both timely and urgent, given Nigeria’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
By promoting sustainable practices, the programme is helping farmers improve productivity without depleting resources a critical consideration for long-term food security.
As we approach the National Impact Workshop, there is an opportunity for policymakers, NGOs, private sector actors, and financial institutions to join forces in scaling this programme’s successes.
The workshop will showcase evidence-based results, including video documentaries that bring the programme’s impact to life, and offer a roadmap for stakeholders to extend these benefits across Nigeria.
Incorporating the innovative approaches championed by the extension activity into other areas of Nigerian agriculture can solidify the progress achieved, transforming agriculture into a sector that truly supports livelihoods, fosters environmental stewardship, and sustains economic growth.
Feed the Future has demonstrated the transformative power of collaboration in agriculture. To build on this success, we must take action to ensure these gains continue.
By investing in MSMEs, creating opportunities for youth, leveraging digital tools, and prioritising climate resilience, we can cultivate an agricultural future for Nigeria that is prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive.
South South Times . 