70% agric devt projects under-funded – NAERLS boss

Executive Director, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaisons Services (NAERLS), Professor Mohammed Khalid-Othman, Wednesday expressed concern that over 70 per cent of agricultural development projects (ADPs) are under-funded by the state governors.

He spoke on the sideline of a training held at the institute at Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state.

The training was tagged: Capacity Building of Agriculture Extension Managers and Agriculture Field Officers on Agriculture Value-Chain.

“We are here to build the capacity of the 36 ADPs owned by the 36 governors as well as the one owned by the FCT on how to deliver extension services in the face of economic challenges.

“Most of the states are under-funding their ADPs. In the course of our survey we found out that more than 70 per cent of the ADPs are being under-funded by their state governors.

“And when you under-fund the ADPs, definitely the extension personnel cannot really work and reach out to the farmers and remember, extension agents are the foot soldiers as far as extension system is concerned.

“The way forward is to gather the top management of extension to discuss the emerging trend and opportunities which we are doing now.

 “The whole idea is, at the end of the day, we are going to come out with a communiqué that will address the various challenges of extension in this country.

“On the other hand, we are also building the capacity of the extension personnel directly, we have the 37 ADPs, teaching them how to use ICT platforms to provide extension services,” he stated.

Khalid-Othman said due to the advent of communication system, extension workers needed not to be in physical contact with farmer one-to-one, adding that the extension agents could communicate through telephone or video.

The executive director assured that using the new technique, the extension agents might send a lot of materials for the farmers to untilise, adding that such move would definitely improve the system. (NAN)

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