The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for the deployment of integrated digital infrastructure to expand agricultural extension services and improve farmers’ access to timely information, as Nigeria seeks to boost productivity and strengthen food security.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at the Africa Agribusiness Extension Summit 2026 in Abuja, where he was represented by the agency’s Director of e Government, Engr. Salisu Kaka. Inuwa said Nigeria could no longer rely solely on conventional face to face extension services to meet the needs of its growing farming population, adding that digital platforms could connect farmers with agricultural experts regardless of their location.
He explained that technologies such as artificial intelligence could help analyse agricultural trends, provide farming recommendations and support early warning systems, while digital platforms could deliver information on weather conditions, crop diseases and market opportunities. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, also called for increased investment in digital agricultural extension services, noting that technology should complement existing extension workers rather than replace them.
However, stakeholders say the success of digital agriculture will depend on reliable internet access, quality agricultural data, affordable devices and adequate digital skills among farmers, particularly those in rural communities. Chief Executive Officer of Extension Africa, Tajudeen Yahaya, said his organisation had reached more than one million farmers through a network of about 7,000 extension workers across 16 states, while calling for stronger collaboration among government, private companies and development partners to expand access to agricultural advice.