Arokoyo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State, shortly after a meeting between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and AETA in Zaria.
He said commitment, dedication and honesty were required to enable the various agriculture programmes record the desired success.
He underscored the importance of collaboration efforts to enable Nigeria lead Africa in the quest for food security, hence the essence of the meeting.
Arokoyo said the meeting was organised to strengthen and actualise the partnership between the ministry and the organisation which was signed in February, adding that the partnership was necessitated to effectively check the neglect of extension services in Nigeria.
“Extension service is key to agricultural transformation because it is a bridge between technology and the farmers.”
According to him, Nigeria has an edge over other African countries in terms of policies, commitment as well as size and population.
The professor noted that SASAKAWA, an International NGO which promotes global funding for agriculture, had become a household name in Nigeria.
“It has indicated interest inthe Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government in view of its determination to boost food security not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.
“SASAKAWA has established itself in Nigeria as an international NGO that specialises in extension service delivery to small-scale poor rural farmers.
“The Minister of Agriculture is very passionate about extension services; this is one of the proactive ways to revive the neglect of extension services in the country,” he added. (NAN)
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