Policy and Agricultural Extension Programs: Implication for Improved Agricultural Production in Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian agricultural sector is said to be the supposed highest employer of labour and also gives the country a huge earnings but it presents a mixed result of good and not-too-good scenarios given the expected fortune which is compounded by mirage of challenges, ranging from poor or lack of knowledge and information needed by the rural farmers who are the majority in the agricultural production chain. This problem has therefore raised the need for the integration of Agricultural Extension Programs/Workers for of a result driven agricultural production. Given this position, this paper examines the interconnectivity between a holistic policy framework that addresses agricultural extension program and the application of same in the enhancement of agricultural production for improved individual, national earnings, and food security. It also appreciates the fact that Nigeria’s agricultural sector presents a formidable environment for improved productivity when the place of policies are systematically developed to cater for the need of the rural farmers who are the core actors in the country’s agricultural production process through a workable agricultural extension programs. Data were sourced from the internet, journals, government papers and were subjected to thematic analysis. The paper recommends amongst other things, that; a workable environment should be created by government where the agricultural extension workers can objectively undertake the various extension programs and policies that will impact positively on the rural farmers whose productivity is consequent upon the quality of information and knowledge available to them.

Keywords: Policy, rural farmers, agricultural, extension