Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture sector have expressed concern over the poor translation of agricultural research into tangible benefits for farmers, warning that the lack of practical application threatens food security and productivity.
Speaking at a two-day National Workshop on Improving Viability and Linkages Between Agriculture Research, Extension Services, and Farming for Food Value Chain in Abuja,
Dr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), said Nigeria invests heavily in agricultural research. Yet, farmers continue to face hunger and low yields.
“As someone who works on the public budget, which is taxpayers’ money, I’ve done much work around the votes of the Ministry of Agriculture, and I saw that the research institutes are taking up a good part of the funding that goes to the ministry,” Onyekpere stated.
“We are not paying researchers to research for the sake of research. We are paying researchers so that they can improve the value chain of our food, making it more productive and adding more value.”
He emphasised the importance of focusing on productivity, noting that research should be directed toward enhancing crop yields, combating pests and diseases, and increasing Nigeria’s participation in global value chains.
He pointed out that Nigeria produces up to 20% of the world’s cassava but earns less than 1% of its $189 billion in derivative value.
Sophie von Knebel, Country Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, emphasised the importance of ensuring that research results are not left sitting in academic journals but are adapted for practical use, especially by women smallholder farmers, who make up a majority of the farming population.
“The challenges confronting Nigerian agriculture are well documented, including limited access to finance, weak extension structures, poor adoption of research outputs, and a persistent disconnect between innovation and implementation,” she said.
“Yet, within these challenges lie tremendous opportunities to take immediate, practical actions that can transform how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied.”
Fatima Bala-Gummi, President of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), echoed the call for action, highlighting that research results can help smallholder women farmers increase yields and reduce labour if properly shared and implemented.
Represented by SWOFON’s National PRO Marka Abbas, she stated: “Effective linkages between agricultural research institutions and farmers will bring changes in our farming system for better food production and a stronger food value chain.”
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), represented by Dr. Nnemeka Ihegwaogu, Assistant Director of Research, assured participants of ongoing efforts to bridge the gap.
She explained that the council is collaborating with institutions to enhance extension services and ensure that research is effectively transferred to farmers.
“The ARCN has been working over the years as a leader in agricultural research in Nigeria and is aligning with the renewed hope agenda of the current government to improve the dissemination of research technology,” she said.
According to her, each research institute now has extension departments and agricultural outreach centres in schools and rural communities to ensure that research reaches those who need it.
The workshop was organised by CSJ in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, with participants calling for stronger collaboration, better communication, and action plans that translate agricultural research into everyday tools for Nigerian farmers.
