Adv. Agric. Biol. 4 (4), 2015: 132-134 © PSCI Publications Advance in Agriculture and Biology www.pscipub.com/AAB E-ISSN:2310-9343 / P-ISSN: 2311-0163 DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.AAB.2015.4.4.132134 Developing Agricultural Value Chains: Implications for Agricultural Extension A.A Ammani, Y.M Abdullahi National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison ServicesAhmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Corresponding author email:aaammani@yahoo.co.uk Paper Information A B S T R A C T Received: 14 May, 2015 Accepted: 19 August, 2015 Published: 20 December, 2015 Citation Ammani AA, Abdullahi YM. 2015. Developing Agricultural Value Chains: Implications for Agricultural Extension. Advance in Agriculture and Biology, 4 (4), 132- 134. Retrieved from www.pscipub.com (DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.AAB.2015.4.4.132134) Agricultural extension has many definitions, philosophies, typologies and approaches. Views on extension have changed in emphasis from agricultural production to helping farmers organize themselves; linking farmers to markets; reducing vulnerability and enhancing the voice of the rural poor; developing micro-enterprises; poverty reduction and environmental conservation; and strengthening and supporting farmer organizations. What the entire foregoing views have in common is that the theory and practice of agricultural extension revolve round the farmer. Developing value chains for strategic agricultural commodities is now essential to enhance agricultural transformation and global competitiveness. In fact the Value Chain Approach is the central mechanism of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) aimed at restoring the lost glory of Nigeria’s agriculture. The agricultural value chain approach brings actors other than the farmer into focus in agricultural transformation. What are the implications of adopting the agricultural value chain approach on the principles and practice of agricultural extension in Nigeria? An attempt towards finding answer to this question was attempted in this paper based on survey of the literature on value chain actors’ information needs published in several rice value chain studies in Nigeria. It was concluded that the adoption of the agricultural value chain approach has implications on the concept and practice of agricultural extension which include: (a) that the concept of agricultural extension must integrate the various actors of the agricultural value chain other than the farmer, and that (b) the extension delivery system need to be repositioned to advice the actors of the agricultural value chain, other than the farmers. A multi-actor extension system capable of addressing the constraints of the various actors along the agricultural value chain was recommended. © 2015 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved. Key words: agricultural value chains, agricultural extension, practice, paradigms Introduction The term agricultural extension has many definitions, philosophies, typologies and approaches (Rivera, 1988; Axinn, 1998; Gêmo et al., 2005). Views on extension have changed in emphasis from the transfer and exchange of practical production information to farmers (Rivera and Qamar, 2003) through helping farmers organize themselves (Swanson, 2006; Shepherd, 2007); strengthening and supporting farmer organizations (Sulaiman and Hall, 2002); linking farmers to markets (Neuchatel Group, 1999; Swanson, 2009; USAID 2004); empowering farmers and the rural poor (Farrington et al, 2002); developing micro-enterprises (Rivera et al, 2001) to poverty alleviation and environmental conservation (Alex et al, 2002). What the entire foregoing have in common is that agricultural extension revolve round the farmer. Developing regional value chains for strategic agricultural commodities is essential to enhance agricultural transformation and global competitiveness (Meyer-Stamer, 2004). The agricultural value chain approach, now in currency, brought actors other than the farmer, into focus in agricultural transformation. What implications will the value chain approach have on the traditional concept and practice of agricultural extension? The purpose of this paper is to identify the implications of the agricultural value chain approach on the concept and practice of agricultural extension based on problems identified in published reports of rice value chain studies conducted in Nigeria. Specific objectives of this study are: Extract the constraints identified for the major actors of the rice value chain, other than the farmer, from previous rice value chain studies conducted in Nigeria. Identify value chain actors to be targeted by agricultural extension to effectively neutralize the identified constraints.