1 min
Information is a powerful tool shaping every sector, especially agriculture. To feed our growing population, farmers must have access to relevant information and knowledge. However, for many developing countries, disseminating the relevant information to the farmers has become a major challenge. This is because they face a critical shortage of agricultural extension agents, who are the primary source of information for farmers. With one agent for every 15,000 to 20,000 farmers, far below the recommended 1:1,000 ratio, this gap severely hinders productivity and food security. There is an urgent need to bridge this gap.
The reality is that the public extension system is struggling and gradually dying without traces. The state-run Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) are critically underfunded, leaving agents without essential resources such as vehicles and operational funds. This is compounded by poor infrastructure, making it difficult to reach remote communities. The profession itself is suffering from a lack of interest from young people due to low salaries and poor career prospects, resulting in an aging workforce. Many agents are overworked and under-equipped, unable to provide the hands-on support farmers need to adopt new techniques, improve seed varieties, and manage pests and diseases effectively.
This leaves millions of farmers without the tools to succeed, perpetuating a cycle of low yields and poverty and making the country vulnerable to food insecurity and over-reliance on food imports.
To solve this crisis, we need to rethink a new strategy, that is evolving, inclusive and sustainable. While government investment in public extension is essential, it’s not enough. We must integrate the private sector into extension services. Agro-input firms, private consultants, and NGOs can offer specialized advice, link farmers to markets, and deliver technology-driven solutions. Their business models are often more responsive to the needs of farmers and can offer a more flexible and targeted approach. In addition, a sustainable solution lies in creating public-private partnerships. The government should focus on a regulatory role, setting standards and facilitating collaboration, while private organizations lead in service delivery. This collaboration leverages the strengths of both sectors—the public sector's reach and regulatory power, and the private sector's innovation and efficiency.
The crisis facing our agricultural extension system is a shared challenge that demands a unified response. We can no longer afford to let millions of farmers operate in an information vacuum. Let's work together to build a resilient and inclusive system that empowers them with the knowledge they need to succeed. So, let's join forces so that no farmer is left behind.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde Olarewaju
This leaves millions of farmers without the tools to succeed, perpetuating a cycle of low yields and poverty and making the country vulnerable to food insecurity and over-reliance on food imports.
To solve this crisis, we need to rethink a new strategy, that is evolving, inclusive and sustainable. While government investment in public extension is essential, it’s not enough. We must integrate the private sector into extension services. Agro-input firms, private consultants, and NGOs can offer specialized advice, link farmers to markets, and deliver technology-driven solutions. Their business models are often more responsive to the needs of farmers and can offer a more flexible and targeted approach. In addition, a sustainable solution lies in creating public-private partnerships. The government should focus on a regulatory role, setting standards and facilitating collaboration, while private organizations lead in service delivery. This collaboration leverages the strengths of both sectors—the public sector's reach and regulatory power, and the private sector's innovation and efficiency.
The crisis facing our agricultural extension system is a shared challenge that demands a unified response. We can no longer afford to let millions of farmers operate in an information vacuum. Let's work together to build a resilient and inclusive system that empowers them with the knowledge they need to succeed. So, let's join forces so that no farmer is left behind.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde Olarewaju
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