By Ahmed Ahmed
Bauchi state Stakeholders in Agriculture has urged the government to invest more on extension services in the state.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of one-day Consultative Forum to address policy and practice gaps in Agricultural Extension services delivery towards improving Livelihoods at Yimir Hotel Bauchi recently.
The Communique was read by Mrs Bulak Afsa Chairperson, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Bauchi Chapter, said the Meeting was organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) with support from Oxfam in Nigeria, within the framework of the Together Against Poverty (TAP) project.
It calls on Bauchi state and local governments to invest more in extension services, ensure timely, adequate, and sustainable funding for the agricultural extension services and employ more extension agents.
The Stakeholders observed that Agriculture Extension practice is gradually dwindling due to various reasons, majorly driven by politics.
"There is an inadequacy and maldistribution of Extension workers in the Ministry of Agriculture and Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) due to interference by the government, poor funding and supervision of Extension activities as well as lack of input supply," it said.
The Stakeholders called on the government to provide mobility to extension workers for effective supervision and ensure handling of input supply is in the hands of Extension workers.
They all urged all NGOs and partners coming to the state for agricultural services should go through the BSADP for proper implementation, supervision, and coordination.
The Communique added that gov. should provide a framework that will facilitate the participation of public and private sector actors including NGOs and FBOs in the provision of Agriculture extension services along the value chain.
It also calls on the government to strengthen the linkages among researchers, extension workers, farmers, and the private sector.
They also urged government to establish information, communication, and knowledge management systems.
The stakeholders also call for the promotion of E-extension services such as farmers’ helpline, farm radio to complement the agricultural extension Services, should be encouraged and supported by relevant stakeholders.
They urged the state government to domesticate the National Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) at the state level.
The Stakeholders concluded by calling for less political interference in Agricultural activities in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting was attended by relevant Federal and state institutions, CSOs, small-holder farmer associations, and the media.
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