Agricultural Extension Pluralism and Service Quality in Nigeria: Mapping the Non-State Extension Landscape

This study maps and assesses the non-state agricultural extension landscape in Nigeria, examining the diversity, quality, and coordination of extension services provided by private sector agro-input companies, NGOs, development projects, farmer organisations, and digital platforms. Extension pluralism, the coexistence of multiple public and non-state extension providers, has become the de facto reality of Nigerian agricultural extension, yet the non-state segment has received insufficient systematic analysis. This study uses an extension landscape mapping methodology, combining national-level surveys of 80 non-state extension organisations, service quality assessments in six states representing all geopolitical zones, and comparative analysis of service delivery models. Service quality is assessed using reach, depth, relevance, and sustainability dimensions. Coordination mechanisms between public and non-state providers are evaluated. Findings reveal a diverse but fragmented non-state extension landscape, with over 200 active organisations providing services in the six study states. Private sector input company extension shows the strongest technical quality but narrowest commodity focus. NGO extension demonstrates strong participatory quality but limited geographic reach. Digital extension platforms show rapidly growing reach but insufficient depth. Coordination between state ADPs and non-state providers is minimal. The study contributes an original national non-state extension landscape assessment and recommends a national extension pluralism coordination framework to maximise the complementarity of diverse providers.

Keywords: extension pluralism, non-state extension, Nigeria, extension quality, private sector extension.