NITDA urges AI driven agricultural extension, seeks digital infrastructure for farmers
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for the development of integrated digital infrastructure to expand agricultural extension services and provide millions of Nigerian farmers with timely and reliable information.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at the Africa Agribusiness Extension Summit (AAES) 2026, organised by Extension Africa in partnership with NITDA in Abuja.
Represented by the 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.
He said emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), could complement the existing extension workforce by connecting farmers with advisory services regardless of their location.
According to him, the priority should be the development of an interconnected digital ecosystem rather than isolated platforms. He identified interoperability, scalability, security and reliable data as critical to delivering effective digital agricultural services.
Inuwa also highlighted AI’s potential to analyse agricultural trends, provide recommendations and support early-warning systems that could help farmers respond to emerging threats.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, similarly called for increased investment in digital agricultural extension services to modernise farming, boost productivity and strengthen food security.
Kyari said the conventional extension system had weakened over the years, resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of farmers to extension agents in many areas.
