In a bid to eradicate poverty and attain food and nutrition security, various stakeholders have convened for the 6th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week to harness agricultural extension and advisory Services in scaling regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions for the food system.
During the opening of the 6th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) under the theme “Harnessing Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature-based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa.” The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, represented by Director Extension Services, Mr. Micheal Brooks stated the summit’s primary objective: to facilitate processes enhancing the use of knowledge and technologies contributing to national development.
Recalling the 5th Summit held in November 2021 in Kampala, Uganda, Mr. Micheal Brooks emphasized the global significance of the Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week. He reiterated that the summit serves as a platform for global deliberations on strategic issues in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) in Africa.
According to Brooks, “The aim of the Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week is to facilitate processes that improve the use of knowledge, technologies, and innovations by agricultural value chain actors for individual and national development goals.”
In his goodwill remarks, Dr. Paul Fatch, Chairman of the African Forum Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), emphasized the paramount importance of farmers in society and highlighted the need for their recognition.
The event’s highlights included the ceremonial unveiling of the Harmonized Extension Manual, the National Extension Agricultural Policy, and the acknowledgement of outstanding contributors to Agricultural Extension Services in Africa through Awards and Recognition.
Notable attendees comprised representatives from the Ministry’s development partners, including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and African Forum Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), among others.