The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), in partnership with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), hosted a stakeholder event aimed at developing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for Digital Agricultural Extension Services (DAES).
The event, held at Ikeja, Lagos, convened stakeholders from public, private, and development sectors to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers and bolster Nigeria’s food security goals.
Smallholder farmers, who account for up to 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food production, face significant barriers, including limited access to advisory services, fragmented private sector solutions, and underfunded public extension systems.
The proposed PPP DAES solution seeks to bridge these gaps by providing scalable, financially sustainable, and user-centric solutions that deliver agronomic, market, and financial information at scale.
This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goals of agricultural self-sufficiency and import substitution, with a strong emphasis on private sector leadership.
The event highlighted findings from a scoping study on DAES solutions and showcased innovative, cost-effective delivery methods tailored to local needs.
Stakeholders discussed strategies to enhance real-time, localized support for farmers and agribusinesses, focusing on key value chains such as maize, cassava, and cocoa. These efforts aim to improve productivity, market access, and traceability.
Senior Program Officer, Digital Agronomy at BMGF, Tawanda Hove emphasized the foundation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
“Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the nation’s food security. Empowering them with the right tools and information is essential. Today’s discussions are pivotal in building a sustainable, user-focused advisory system that aligns public and private sector resources to deliver transformative impact,” he stated.
The event also focused on operational frameworks and funding models to ensure the financial feasibility of the DAES solution. Inclusivity emerged as a key theme, with plans to integrate technologies such as Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and smartphone applications to ensure accessibility for all, particularly women and underserved communities.
Silim Nahdy of AFAAS underscored the role of technology in agriculture’s future.
“Through collaborative efforts like today’s convening, we can design innovative, locally relevant solutions that empower farmers and build resilient agricultural systems across the continent,” he remarked.
Key outcomes from the event included commitments from private sector participants to co-invest in digital solutions, consensus on user-centred product features, and strengthened stakeholder collaboration.
These milestones set the stage for the final development of the DAES product profile with a sustainable business model.