ABUJA, Nigeria The Federal Government has renewed its call for the speedy passage of the proposed Agricultural Extension Services Revitalisation Bill, describing a stronger and more modern extension system as essential to improving farmers’ productivity, strengthening food security and transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the call while linking Nigeria’s agricultural priorities to discussions at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. He said the outcomes of the forum closely align with the objectives of the proposed legislation and should provide further momentum for reforming agricultural extension services across the country.
Agricultural extension services play a crucial role in connecting farmers with the knowledge, technology and practical support they need to improve production. Extension officers help farmers understand better farming techniques, adopt improved technologies, respond to pests and diseases, manage climate-related challenges and gain access to useful information on markets, finance and modern agricultural practices.
For Nigeria, strengthening this system is particularly important as the country continues to seek ways to increase domestic food production while making agriculture more productive, commercially viable and resilient.
The proposed bill is designed to address several weaknesses affecting the delivery of extension services. Its priorities include technology adoption, improved seed systems, climate-smart agriculture, digital transformation, better data management and stronger connections between farmers, researchers, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector.
The legislation also seeks to make agricultural extension more inclusive by ensuring that women, young people and other groups involved in farming are better integrated into modern agricultural support systems.
The push for the bill comes at a time when climate change, rising production costs, limited access to modern technology and inadequate technical support continue to affect farmers across Nigeria. Without effective extension services, many farmers can struggle to translate agricultural research, government programmes and new technologies into practical results on their farms.
Kyari's position is therefore centred on creating a system that does more than provide farmers with inputs. The goal is to ensure that farmers also receive the knowledge, guidance and technical assistance required to use those inputs effectively and improve their overall productivity.
The legislation has already passed initial stages in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with further legislative processes, including public hearings, still required before it can become law. Stakeholders supporting the initiative have consequently urged lawmakers to accelerate the process.
Among those backing the push is Hajia Salamatu Garba, founder and global advocate of the Women Farmers Advancement Network, who has called for the legislation to be fast-tracked. She stressed the importance of strengthening extension services and ensuring that farmers are properly connected to the expertise and resources required to improve agricultural production.
The importance of the proposed reform extends beyond individual farmers. A functioning extension system can help Nigeria reduce food losses, improve yields, encourage the adoption of modern farming techniques and strengthen the link between agricultural research and actual production.
It can also support the country's wider ambition of moving agriculture beyond subsistence farming towards a more competitive sector capable of creating jobs, supporting rural communities, attracting investment and contributing significantly to the national economy.
At its core, the Agricultural Extension Services Revitalisation Bill is about rebuilding the last-mile connection between agricultural policy and the farmer. Policies, research and innovations can only produce meaningful results when they reach the people working on the farms and are translated into practical solutions they can use.
With the Federal Government now pushing for faster legislative action, attention will turn to the National Assembly and other stakeholders involved in the process. The success of the proposed reform will ultimately depend not only on its passage but also on how effectively the new framework is implemented nationwide.
For Nigeria, strengthening agricultural extension could become an important step towards building a more productive, technology-driven and resilient agricultural sector capable of feeding a growing population and creating greater economic opportunities for millions of farmers.
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