The Nigerian Senate has made significant progress toward bolstering the nation’s agricultural sector as the Agricultural Extension Service Bill, 2024 (SB. 646), sponsored by Senator salisu mustapha passed its first reading.
The bill, championed by agricultural stakeholders, including the WOFAN-ICON2 project, aims to strengthen agricultural extension services to enhance smallholder farmers’ productivity and ensure food security nationwide.
It also seeks to equip extension workers with advanced, technology-driven, and demand-oriented skills to improve service delivery.
Speaking on the objectives of the bill, Senator Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, stated that it aims to implement the National Agricultural Extension Policy and Strategy effectively.
He emphasised that the bill would establish a legal framework for sustainable agricultural extension services in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the legislation would support the creation of a harmonised, pluralistic, and demand-driven e-agriculture extension system to boost efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
Recall that the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, commended the efforts of stakeholders, including the WOFAN-ICON2 project and the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), in drafting the bill.