I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

AN OVERVIEW OF 30 YEARS OF THE

RESEARCH-EXTENSON-FARMER-INPUTS

LINKAGE SYSTEM (REFILS) IN

NIGERIA.

PROF Tunji Arokoyo

NAERLS, FMA&RD, ABU, Zaria, Nigeria.

I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

Outline of Our Discussions

Introduction

Extension & REFILS

Historical Development of REFILS

i. FACU/PCU Era

ii. NFRA/NSPFS/NPFS Era

iii. REFILS in the NARP Era

iv. REFILS in ATA/AETA Era

The major Challenges of REFILS

Recommendations for moving forward

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

Introduction:

Experience has clearly shown that sustainable agricultural

development cannot be achieved without strong and sustained

linkages between Research, Extension, Farmers and the private

sector (Inputs supply, financing and marketing).

The NARES has developed from a rudimentary linear model

that was characterized by the virtual isolation of the components

of the system (Research, Extension, & Farmers), from each other,

thru the technology transfer triangular model, to a more

interactive farming systems research and extension system

(FSR&E) model.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

EXTENSION & REFILS DEVELOPMENT

LINEAR MODEL: Research – Extension – Farmers - Unidirectional flow of information - Non-participatory - Very weak Linkages among sub-components TRIANGULAR MODEL: - Top-down - Supply-driven Research & Extension - Weak linkages FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH & EXTENSION MODEL: - More interactive but still low level farmer participation - Weak linkages

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

EXTENSION & REFILS DEVELOPMENT

To ensure effective linkage between research, extension and production, the on-farm research approach, within the framework of the farming systems research and extension approach was evolved under the World Bank assisted Multi-State Agricultural Development Project (MSADP). This was the first real effort in participatory technology development as it focused on identifying farmers’ problems and constraints to production and designing both researcher- managed, and farmer-managed on-farm trials to solve the identified problems. Under the approach, diagnostic surveys, totally funded by ADPs, were conducted before implementing the on-farm trials (both applied and adaptive).

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

EXTENSION & REFILLS DEVELOPMENT (FACU/PCU ERA)

At the full development of the Farming Systems Research and Extension approach, Research Institutes were reorganized and the country restructured into five agro-ecological/farming systems zones IN 1987. Five zonal Commodity Research Institutes were identified and mandated to take charge of the farming systems research and extension needs of each of the zones as follows: IAR/ABU Zaria, for the North West, LCRI Maiduguri, for the North East, NCRI Baddegi, for the Middle Belt, IAR&T/OAU Ibadan, for the South West, and NRCRI Umudike, for the South East Zone.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS DEVELOPMENT (NARP ERA)

Despite the new arrangements, linkages between and within the major stakeholders in agricultural development remained weak. The critical need to develop very strong linkages between the Research, Extension, Farmers and the private sector for sustainable agricultural development, led to the conceptualization and establishment of the Research-Extension-Farmer-Inputs Linkage System (REFILS). Before the advent of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP), all REFILS activities were funded by the ADPs and erstwhile FACU. During this period, PCU (then FACU) ensured that the linkages encouraged and facilitated research and extension activities.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS DEVELOPMENT (NARP ERA)

REFILS is basically a platform to bring together all the key stakeholders in agricultural development (research, extension, farmers, policy makers and the private sector for the effective management of research and extension delivery for sustainable agricultural development.

NARP brought the Universities formally into REFILS

The strategy has not only strengthened the traditionally weak

linkages between research and extension, it also has identified and brought in other key actors in agricultural research (the universities) and in extension delivery (the NGOs) and Policy makers.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives THE REFILS MODEL

MTP MTP

I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

KEY REFILS ACTIVITIES

Diagnostic Survey

Planning On-Farm Research (In-House Reviews)

On-farm Applied Research (Researcher-Managed)

On-farm Adaptive Research ( Farmer-Managed) ADP OFAR

Annual Zonal Workshops

Monthly Technology Review Meeting (MTRM)

Forth-nightly Training Session (FNTs)

Farmer Training (SPAT/MTPs) Mass Media

Zonal Steering Committee Meetings

Zonal Technical Coordination Meeting

Annual National Extension Review and Planning Meeting (NAERLS/PCU/ASD)

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS DEVELOPMENT (NARP ERA)

REFILS operated effectively and smoothly while the WB assistance lasted. All activities held as planned especially the Annual Zonal REFILS Workshops, the Tech. & Coord. Meetings, the MTRM, the Pre-MTRM visits, & the FNTs. The system made significant contributions to agricultural development.

However farmer participation remained low and private sector involvement even lower. The termination of the World Bank support under the NARP, compounded by the drastic reduction in funding and rationalization of the ADP staff marked the beginning of the demise of REFILS nationwide.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS DEVELOPMENT POST NARP

REFILS Operators (Research Institutes and the ADPs) were forced to devise appropriate coping mechanisms to keep the system running e.g.: pre-MTRM visits were cancelled in some zones, and the MTRM became either Quarterly (QTRM) or Bi-monthly (BMTRM), and FNTs became monthly training (MTs). Other REFILS activities were similarly affected. REFILS status today varies significantly from zone to zone, overall, it has become a “skeleton” and a major concern and constraint to sustainable agricultural development.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS DEVELOPMENT POST NARP

First REFILS Stakeholders Forum (Aug. 2006) convened by PCU & ASD and hosted by NRCRI, Umudike

Agricultural Research Council Decree of 1997 became an Act.

Second REFILS Stakeholders Forum (March 2008)

convened by NFRA & ARCN and hosted by IAR & T, Ibadan

Fadama II, III & Fadama III + AF support to the ADPs to keep critical components of REFILS going.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS DEVELOPMENT IN ATA/AETA

AETA: To “clear the extension mess and resuscitate the ADPs”

To institutionalize REFILS

Creation of FDAE for the first time as a Dept in Nigeria

Creation of the South-South Geopolitical Zone with NIFOR as the Coordinating Research Institute 2014 (Implications!)

MoU with State Executives to resuscitate the State ADPs.

REFILS institutionalization in National Agric Extension Policy

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

REFILS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT BY ZONES

ZONES KEY INDICATORS ASSESSMENT

SOUTH WEST Persistency; Involvement of NGO, Private Sector, Farmers, LGAs, Contributory funding, Coverage

Good

SOUTH-EAST Persistency; Involvement of NGO, Private Sector, Farmers, LGAs, Coverage, Joint Scientific Visits

Good

SOUTH-SOUTH Difficult start (“Born into an unfriendly world”) ?

MIDDLE BELT

Coverage Fairly Good

NORTH WEST Coverage, No Zonal REFILS W/Shop (Last day of Cropping Scheme”

Fairly Good

NORTH EAST Limited Stakeholders base Fair

I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

MAJOR PROBLEMS OF REFILS

Poor Funding by all Stakeholders. (Ref Non sync of WB support)

Improperly Defined Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders

Poor Understanding of the Principles, Processes and Activities of REFILS especially by the New Entrants

Low Level Interest and Involvement of the Private Sector and Local Governments especially in NW, NE & MB (NC)

Low Level participation of Farmers in the Research & Extension Agenda.

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESUSCITATING & SUSTAINING OF REFILS

Pluralistic Funding by Federal, State and LGAs on an agreed Formula (Ref. Nat. Agricultural Extension Policy provisions of Commitment & Funding)

Key stakeholders operatives (NARIS, FDAE, ARCN & ADPS) must have budget line for REFILS Activities

Significantly improve Private Sector participation

Redefinition and Clarification of the Roles and Responsibilities of ALL Stakeholders

Establish a National REFILS Steering Committee; remove non-critical REFILS activities (eg Zonal Tech Steering Comm meetings etc)

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I.A.R.&T: 50 years of improving farmer’s lives

I thank you All for Listening

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