The Federal Government of Nigeria has empowered 311 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the past four years to enhance agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari stated this at the National Impact Workshop on Innovative Market-led extension service delivery on Wednesday in Abuja.
Kyari said this was in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity in Nigeria.
The theme of the workshop is: “Innovations in Market-Led Extension Service Delivery in Nigeria”.
He was represented by Dr Deola Lordbanjour, the Director of Extension Services in the ministry.
Kyari described agricultural extension service as a strategic vehicle for delivering innovative, effective and innovative solutions to the doorstep of smallholder farmer.
“The impact of this collaboration spans new business solutions, enhanced business growth, and created jobs for both youth and women while boosting access to market for MSMEs and farmers,” he said.
He emphasised that this partnership not only improved productivity but also contributed to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“Since 2020, we have jointly identified several impactful agricultural practices as business solutions for farmers, transforming MSMEs into key players in agricultural extension services.
” The results are also visible in the number of farmers that were reached with improved production practices.
“Our mission has been to provide effective and efficient demand-driven extension services to all categories of farmers, including youth and women,” he said.
He highlighted how the partnership had not only facilitated the adoption of new agricultural technologies but also promoted market access for farmers.
Also speaking, Jean–Pierre Rousseau, Director, Winrock International, USAID, underscored the importance of extension service to farmers as well as the private sector.
” Today, we have over 311 MSMEs serving as change catalysts, by bringing innovation, information, and productivity enhancing inputs and services to the doorstep of over two million smallholder farmers.
” These MSME change agents have transformed extension services from mere information dissemination into a robust enterprise,” he said.
Rousseau emphasised the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians as vital to the success of agricultural transformation.
In a presentation, Dr Benjamin Odoemena, Chief of Party, USAID, said the progamme is a USAID funded five-year collaborative development initiative.
He said MSMEs will facilitate learning, replication and scale around alternate models of extension.
The programme, he said, also aim to increase access and adoption of improved agricultural technologies and practices for two million smallholder farmers in Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger.
The workshop showcased the transformative impact of the initiative, with notable testimonies from farmers benefiting from improved access to services.
A farmer, Dorcas Shoja, thanked USAID Feed the Future for introducing most impactful practices (MIPs) to farmers.
” We (farmers) are happy now, people come to observe my farms and are joining us to learn about the MIPs,” she said.
