State commissioners, stakeholders deliberate on proposed agric extension service delivery bill
To validate the Draft Agricultural Extension Service Delivery Revitalisation Bill in order to advance extension service system in the country, Commissioners of Agriculture, Permanent Secretaries and relevant stakeholders have met for a one-day technical validation forum in Abuja.
The meeting, organised by Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN-ICON2) Project, assembled representatives from various ministries, members of the academia, traders, legal practitioners to transform the draft agricultural extension bill into an acceptable, implementable bill at the National Assembly.
The Agric Extension Delivery Bill aims to impact the development of the agricultural sector to attain food security in Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen during the event, the Executive Director of WOFAN, Hajia Salamatu Garba, said extensive research has been done on the bill and it awaits translation to action.
She said the bill has gone through key players, starting with a meeting with members of the National Assembly, who have pledged their support.
Hajia Garba said the discussions with commissioners, perm. secs, farmers become relevant as all contributions to the contents of the bill would ensure its implementation into an act.
“We need input to make a successful bill not to be turned down.
“We have reached a stage where we carefully deliberate and consider all agricultural policy and have it translated it into a bill before we approach the National Assembly,” Garba said.
The state commissioners pledged support to the extension service delivery bill and expressed optimism for the bill which came at the right time when so many citizens are wallowing in hunger, causing protests nationwide.
Speaking during the event, the Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, said the problem of agriculture lies with extension service, adding that the effect of not having a clear legal framework around extension service delivery is negatively affecting food security.
‘’Extension bridges the gap between research and farmers, so if extension is not properly taken care of, we will continue to face food insecurity.”
Also, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Maigari Dakingari, said,” Nigeria is passing through a shortage of food, the ADPs before made agriculture successful because of the type of extension services delivery they provided.
“Now the problem agriculture is having is poor funding, there is need to improve on this. We need to allow private extension services to play and contribute to the agricultural sector and improve food sufficiency,” he said.
He pledged the support of the state government to domesticate the bill and ensure its speedy passage.
On his part, Bauchi State Commissioner of Agriculture, Professor Simon Yalams, advocated capacity building and inclusiveness to promote the agriculture sector.
Similarly, Malam Garba Aliyu, perm. sec, Ministry of Agriculture, Zamfara State conveyed the support of the state governor Lawal Dauda, assuring that Zamfara has always prioritise agriculture as the pillar of growth in every society.
His Nasarawa State counterpart, Julius A. Kigbu, perm. sec, Ministry of Agriculture, expressed support to the adoption of the bill once it’s passed to law at the national level.
Speaking about the keen interest Nasarawa has in the bill, Kigbu said the state has adopted the 10% agricultural plan according to the Maputo Declaration.
The stakeholders considered other key issues that will modify the proposed bill like ICT-led agriculture, creation of committees to include traditional rulers, funding, inclusivity and many others.
