The Federal Government has launched the Grassroots Digital Extension Corps (GDEC), a new initiative designed to bring practical agricultural knowledge, modern farming methods and digital support closer to farmers across Nigeria.
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The programme was inaugurated in Abuja by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE).
Under the initiative, 1,884 personnel have been trained for deployment across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They comprise 1,110 agricultural extension agents and 774 food security specialists.
The trained personnel are expected to help farmers access guidance on improved seeds, soil management, pest and disease control, climate-smart agriculture, appropriate use of farm inputs and market opportunities. Digital tools, including the FarmEasy platform, will support communication, data collection and the delivery of agricultural advice.
The initiative addresses Nigeria’s shortage of extension services. NADF said the country has about one extension agent for every 10,000 farmers, compared with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recommendation of one agent for every 1,000 farmers.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said stronger extension services could raise farm productivity and unlock agriculture’s economic potential. He noted that Nigeria’s crop yields remain low compared with countries using improved methods and irrigation.
NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim said the programme’s success would be measured by the number of farmers reached and improvements in productivity, rather than simply the number of workers trained or devices distributed.
GDEC is not a public grant or an open application for farmers. The 1,884 personnel have already been trained. No general farmer registration portal or cash benefit was announced at the launch.
How farmers can benefit
Farmers should contact their state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) or local agricultural extension office to ask about GDEC services in their area. They should follow NADF and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security announcements for updates. Do not pay anyone promising guaranteed enrolment or cash assistance.
