FMAFS, ACReSAL, World Bank Launch DPAE for Farmers

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the Agricultural Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project have partnered with the World Bank to transition the Digital Precision Agricultural Extension (DPAE) platform aimed at enhancing climate resilience among smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria. The initiative was officially launched during a three-day workshop held at Johnwood Hotel, Wuse, Abuja.

The DPAE platform seeks to address critical gaps in agricultural practices, including seed selection and pest control, which contribute to low productivity and food insecurity. It provides farmers with timely, personalized climate-smart guidance through automated voice messages in Hausa, targeting key crops such as maize, sorghum, and rice across eight northern states.

The pilot phase successfully reached 20,000 farmers, demonstrating the platform's potential to transform public service delivery in agriculture. Mr. Ayodel Olawumi emphasized the importance of ensuring the platform's sustainability and integration within Nigeria's agricultural extension system.