…The stakeholder event focuses on supporting the development of a sustainable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for a digital agricultural extension services (DAES) solution to empower smallholder farmers.
WED DEC 18 2024-theGBJournal| The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), in partnership with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), hosted a stakeholder convening to validate plans for a transformative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) digital agricultural extension services (DAES) solution.
This is part of the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and fostering food security in Nigeria.
The event, held on December 17, 2024, at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, brought together stakeholders from the public, private and development sectors to explore innovative solutions that address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and support Nigeria’s food security ambitions.
This initiative represents a significant step in addressing critical challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Nigeria, who contribute up to 90% of the country’s food production.
These farmers face barriers, including limited access to advisory services, fragmented private sector solutions, and underfunded public extension systems, which limit their ability to adopt innovative practices and access markets effectively.
The proposed PPP DAES solution aims to bridge these gaps by leveraging financial sustainability, user-centred design, and tailored solutions to deliver agronomic, market, and financial information at scale. This system seeks to ensure long-term viability while aligning with Nigeria’s agricultural goals of self-sufficiency and import substitution by prioritising private sector leadership.
The event also showcased findings from a scoping study on DAES solutions and highlighted innovative delivery methods that are low-cost, scalable, and site-specific. Participants explored how these solutions can enhance access to real-time, localised support for agro-businesses and farmers, fostering productivity, traceability, and market access for key value chains, including maize, cassava, and cocoa.
Speaking at the convening, Tawanda Hove, Senior Program Officer, Digital Agronomy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, remarked the Gates Foundation is deeply committed to supporting Nigeria’s journey toward agricultural self-sufficiency. Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the nation’s food security, and 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.
During the event, stakeholders also reviewed findings from a scoping study and examined elements of proposed operational frameworks and funding models to ensure the system’s financial feasibility. Discussions also highlighted the importance of inclusivity, with plans to integrate technologies such as Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and smartphone applications to make the platform accessible to all, particularly women and underserved communities.
Also speaking at the event, Silim Nahdy, AFAAS, said, “We believe that the future of agriculture in Africa lies in leveraging technology to bridge the gaps in knowledge and resources. 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.”
The event concluded with key outcomes, including 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 foundation for the final development of the DAES product profile design with a sustainable business model.
This convening represents a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s journey to transform its agricultural sector through innovation and partnership, unlocking new opportunities for smallholder farmers and fostering economic resilience.
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
