1 extension worker for 6,466 farmers worrisome — NAERPM

The 2025 National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting (NAERPM) has raised alarm over the extremely low ratio of agricultural extension workers to farm families in Nigeria, currently estimated at 1:6,466.

Experts warn that this gap undermines efficient extension service delivery, reduces productivity and contributes to poor yields.

The meeting, themed “Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Agricultural Extension in Nigeria: Addressing Climate Change, Digital Gaps and Gender Equity,” was hosted by NAERLS at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

In a communiqué signed by Dr. Habib N. Abubakar of NCRI and 10 other experts, participants said the country must act urgently to strengthen extension services.

They highlighted climate change threats such as over N700 billion in annual flood-related losses, unpredictable rainfall, heat stress, disease outbreaks, farmer-herder conflicts, soil degradation and prolonged drought.

They also lamented poor funding for agriculture, noting that the sector receives only 2–3% of the national budget, with extension services getting just 4–8% of that amount. Poor release of research funds was also cited as a major setback.

The experts called for the recruitment of more frontline extension agents and the adoption of e-extension platforms and farm radio to reduce the worker-to-farmer gap.

They further recommended increased budgetary allocation, timely release of funds and strengthened agricultural research systems to ensure effective dissemination and scaling of innovations at the farmer level.

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