The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged federal, state, and local governments to recruit agriculture graduates and train them as extension officers to help rural farmers adopt modern agricultural technologies.
Mr. Tunde Arosanyin, Chairman of AFAN and leader of the association’s stakeholders, made the appeal on Thursday in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria.
“There is a serious disconnect between available agricultural technology and its utilisation at the grassroots. Extension officers are needed to interpret and communicate these tools effectively to rural farmers,” Arosanyin said, highlighting the widening gap between technological advancements in agriculture and their application on the ground.
He expressed concern over the near disappearance of extension services in the country, describing it as a major hindrance to improved food production.
“The government at all levels should come to the rescue by employing agriculture graduates and training them as extension officers,” he emphasized. “These officers will be critical in educating farmers on the appropriate use of technology, the right seeds to plant, best planting periods, harvesting timelines, post-harvest practices, and modern innovations in the sector.”
Arosanyin also called for a revival of agricultural extension services, stressing that many rural farmers still lack the necessary support to adopt improved practices.
He urged state and local governments to introduce comprehensive farmer subsidy programs, including access to modern tools and quality inputs for smallholder farmers, to complement federal efforts.
