NADF kicks off nationwide digital extension corps initiative to boost food security

…to train 1,884 extension workers

In a bid to bridge the critical gap between agricultural research and grassroots farming, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has commenced the nationwide rollout of its Grassroots Digital Extension Corps (GDEC) initiative.

The agency on Monday kicked off a four-day intensive training programme in Lafia, Nasarawa State, targeting agricultural extension personnel drawn from the North Central geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Lafia, Yejide Olarinde, head of Policy and Advocacy, who represented the executive secretary of NADF, said strengthening the capacity of extension workers remains central to improving agricultural productivity.

According to Olarinde, the workshop serves as the pilot phase of a broader national strategy that will be replicated across Nigeria’s remaining five geopolitical zones under which 1,110 extension agents and 774 food security specialists will be trained, creating a pool of professionals equipped to support farmers and improve food security planning.

“Agricultural extension remains the critical link between research institutions, government interventions, and farming communities. Strengthening the capacity of extension personnel is essential to improving technology adoption, increasing productivity, and achieving sustainable food security,” she said.

She said each participant who completes the programme would receive a digital tablet loaded with the approved training curriculum and extension materials.

“These digital tools will ensure that extension personnel have easy access to training materials and can effectively deliver knowledge and advisory services to farmers wherever they are deployed,” she added.

Also speaking, Amao Oluwakemi, representative of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE), described the program as a timely intervention, noting that a stronger extension system is critical to getting improved technologies into the hands of farmers.

“This training comes at a critical time when strengthening extension services is essential for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring that innovations developed through research effectively reach farmers at the grassroots,” she said.