For Africa’s farmers, access to the right advice can be as important as access to seeds, fertiliser, irrigation and finance. Knowing what to plant, when to plant it, how to manage pests and soil, and where to sell a harvest can determine whether an investment translates into higher productivity and income.
That message was at the centre of the Africa Agribusiness Extension Summit (AAES) 2026, held in Abuja on 30 September under the theme, “Building Sustainable Agricultural Advisory Infrastructure for Africa.” The summit called for agricultural extension to be treated not as a series of short-term projects, but as lasting infrastructure capable of serving farmers consistently.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, captured the distinction by comparing agricultural extension with roads and power infrastructure.
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“Extension must be treated as infrastructure,” he said, arguing that while a project may deliver advice for a few seasons, infrastructure must continue delivering value over decades.
The distinction has practical implications. Sustainable advisory systems require recurring investment in professional staff, transport, training, digital platforms, data and local-language content, rather than relying primarily on initial project funding.
The scale of the challenge is significant. Kyari noted that during the era of World Bank-supported Agricultural Development Projects, one extension agent could serve between 1,000 and 1,500 farm families. In some areas today, however, individual agents are expected to serve between 5,000 and 10,000 farmers, making regular physical visits increasingly difficult.
Technology is therefore becoming an important part of the solution.
Nigeria is already using digital tools to expand the reach of agricultural advice. More than 100,000 farmers across six states receive weekly text messages covering rainfall expectations and crop protection, while more than 1,000 digital extension agents have been equipped with tablets. A digital platform is also being rolled out to provide agricultural advice through text and voice in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin.
NITDA has further called for integrated digital infrastructure to expand agricultural extension services, reinforcing the growing role of technology in connecting farmers with timely information.
But digital tools should complement, rather than replace, human expertise. Farmers still require trusted professionals who understand local conditions and can respond to complex challenges involving crops, soils, pests and markets.
The need for better advice also extends beyond production. Post-harvest management remains a major concern across Africa. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that 13.3 per cent of food is lost globally between production and retail, while sub-Saharan Africa records the highest regional loss rate at 23 per cent.
Advice on drying, storage, transportation and handling can therefore be as important as advice on increasing yields. If farmers produce more but lose a significant share before their crops reach markets, the benefits of higher productivity are weakened.
A sustainable extension system must also reach groups that have historically faced gaps in access, particularly women, young people and farmers in remote communities. Expanding agricultural advisory services can create opportunities for young professionals to work as agronomists, digital advisers, data specialists and community-based facilitators, while helping farmers make better-informed decisions.
The summit’s broader message is that Africa’s agricultural transformation cannot depend solely on distributing inputs or expanding farmland. It requires systems that help farmers apply knowledge effectively year after year.
For governments, this means treating extension as a core agricultural service. For agribusinesses, it means developing advisory relationships that respond to real market needs. For technology companies, it means creating tools that work for farmers in their own languages and contexts.
Africa’s food future will depend on many factors, from finance and infrastructure to markets and climate resilience. But reliable agricultural advice can help connect these investments, ensuring that farmers have the knowledge required to turn opportunity into productivity, income and stronger food systems.
