Funding Of Agricultural Extension In Nigeria F. O. Issa National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigerian Journal of Agricultural Extension Special Edition, Vol. 21, Number 3, September 2020 ABSTRACT The agricultural extension service is the best support mechanism for assisting farmers, especially the smallholders, to continuously acquire requisite knowledge and skills to effectively utilize improved and good agricultural practices in their farm operations to increase agricultural productivity in the country. Yet, poor funding has been its bane. This paper examined the funding situation of agricultural extension in Nigeria. Specifically, the paper examined the major sources of fund for AESD; discussed the rationale for adequate funding of AESD; examined the funding level/status of Agricultural Development Programme's (ADP's) extension; examined possible alternative funding sources; and identified agencies involved in providing agricultural extension activities in Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were used to achieve the objectives of this paper. Mailed questionnaire was used to elicit the views of the managers of ADPs in Nigeria on the major sources of fund and alternative sustainable funding arrangement. Desk review of funding situation in Nigeria was carried out through careful analysis of the 2014–2020 reports of agricultural performance survey of wet season in Nigeria as well as the reports of the National Agricultural Extension and Review Planning (NAE&RP) meeting. The result revealed that the government (federal and state) as well as donor agencies were major sources of fund for AESD. Major reasons for increased and sustainable funding were increased role/expectations from extension, and inability of ADPs to carry out their extension duties. The funding status of ADP extension has been very poor and erratic. Establishment of Agricultural Extension Trust Fund was the major sustainable alternative funding arrangement. Donors, NGO and private agencies involved in agricultural extension activities in Nigeria should be adequately coordinated. Revitalization of agricultural extension in Nigeria requires resolute will and dogged strategies to achieve desired successes. Keywords: Funding of extension, agricultural extension, extension service delivery, Nigeria 118 Introduction One of the cardinal objectives of the present administration in Nigeria is to leverage on the potentials of the agricultural sector to grow and diversify the national economy. The realization of this objective implies that agricultural extension service delivery (AESD) must be re-invigorated and properly positioned to perform its expected role. However, successful AESD is strongly dependent on deliberate, committed, sustained, adequate and timely funding. This is because the future of national development is dependent on the quality of innovative approaches adopted by farmers to accelerate growth in the agricultural sector. The agricultural development programme (ADP), as the extension arm of state ministries of agriculture, was established to provide adequate technology for boosting food production by farmers. The absence of sustainable funding for extension services has made it impossible for ADPs to implement planned programmes. The sliding performance of the ADPs is a result of the dwindling funding situation. This has untold attendant consequences on agricultural production in Nigeria. Stable funding, as a crucial element in agricultural extension service delivery, is important to reverse the apparent low agricultural productivity in Nigeria which can be attributed to poor support for farmers. While the national population is rising, the number of farm families follows the trend. This situation demands that more EAs are employed to meet the recommended 1:800-1000 EA: farm family ratio (FAO, 2012). Agricultural extension service is the most veritable support system for farmers to increase the productivity of their farms. This support is particularly needful as the Nigerian government leveraged on the available potentials in the sector through the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) as a growth pull for the national economy. However, the national agricultural extension and advisory system has left much to be desired in the provision of effective support to farmers due to several challenges. Some of these include; inadequate and untimely funding, poor policy