ARCN urges media to sensitise farmers on govt programmes
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has emphasized the need for enhanced media engagement in agricultural development, urging journalists to move beyond conventional reporting and actively sensitize farmers on government-backed programs.
Speaking at a media and CSOs sensitization event in Abuja, Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary of ARCN, unveiled plans for a Researchers-Journalists-CSOs-Farmers Linkage, aimed at strengthening the flow of agricultural knowledge to farmers.
Sharubutu lauded the launch of the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP) and reaffirmed ARCN’s central role in key agricultural initiatives such as the National Agricultural Development Fund and the Renewed Hope Agricultural Technology Adoption Programme (RHATAP).
“The methodologies of agricultural extension must evolve as the world advances,” Sharubutu stated, highlighting ARCN’s deployment of innovative mechanisms to ensure research breakthroughs reach farmers effectively. He also underscored the need for transparency in the distribution of farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and grains, stressing that proper utilization must be closely monitored.
As part of its efforts to commercialize research outputs, ARCN has established an Agricultural Research Museum, a one-stop repository for innovations emerging from the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs). The initiative is expected to provide agribusiness stakeholders with access to commercializable agricultural technologies.
Source- Guardian
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The ARCN’s push for a stronger media-farmer connection presents opportunities and challenges for stakeholders across the agricultural value chain. For agribusinesses, investors, and policymakers, the success of this initiative will depend on key factors:
- Strengthening Digital Agricultural Extension
With NEEP as a central platform, the media must translate technical research insights into actionable knowledge for farmers. Agribusiness media outlets—such as Agribusiness.africa—have a strategic role to play in simplifying research findings, reporting best practices, and ensuring timely dissemination of farming innovations. - Enhancing Transparency in Input Distribution
While ARCN has committed to monitoring seeds, fertilizers, and grain distribution, stakeholders must push for digital tracking systems that prevent misallocation and ensure farm inputs reach the right farmers at the right time. Private-sector collaboration with ARCN can further improve accountability. - Commercializing Agricultural Research
The Agricultural Research Museum could become a hub for agribusiness investment, but its success depends on effective linkage between research institutions and agribusiness players. Farmers, processors, and investors should advocate for policies that ease the adoption and scaling of research-backed innovations in the market. - Building a Sustainable Media-Agriculture Framework
The proposed Researchers-Journalists-CSOs-Farmers alliance must go beyond a one-time discussion. To drive long-term impact, agribusiness media must specialize in agricultural reporting, and farmers should be co-creators of extension content, ensuring that information remains relevant, practical, and results-driven.
Final Takeaway for Agribusiness Players
The ARCN’s initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader food security and agribusiness transformation agenda, but execution will be key. To maximize impact, collaboration between media, agribusinesses, and government agencies must be institutionalized, digitalized, and consistently monitored.
At Agribusiness.africa, we remain committed to driving data-backed, stakeholder-focused reporting that empowers farmers, agribusiness investors, and policymakers with the insights needed for informed decision-making.
