In Ogun State, Nigeria, the sustained use of IITA’s AKILIMO recommendations by lead farmers has transformed agricultural productivity and earned formal recognition from the Ogun State Government and Prof. Ruth Oniang’o, a renowned advocate for women’s empowerment through agriculture. Prof. Oniang’o praised the farmer’s long-term commitment, noting that consistent application of AKILIMO demonstrates the tool’s transformative power and highlights how evidence-based agronomic and business practices can improve food security and livelihoods. The farmer was specifically commended for a successful maize-cassava intercrop, showcasing practical outcomes of sustained innovation.
Since 2019, the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) has partnered with IITA to promote AKILIMO technologies, linking research with farmer practice. The Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture officially adopted AKILIMO in 2020, integrating its advisories into OGADEP’s extension system and ensuring thousands of farmers benefit from site-specific guidance. Through this partnership, over 22,000 farmers, including 31% women, and more than 500 extension agents and lead farmers have been trained. Farmers have reported improvements in fertilizer application, planting density, intercropping, post-harvest management, and stronger market linkages, demonstrating that AKILIMO’s impact extends beyond agronomy to economic empowerment.
Originally designed as a digital decision support system for cassava farmers, AKILIMO provides tailored recommendations on fertilizer use, planting practices, intercropping methods, and harvesting schedules. Over time, it has evolved into a collaborative framework integrating public extension systems, private sector actors, and farmer organizations. The Ogun State experience illustrates that AKILIMO is more than a tool—it is a platform that empowers farmers, strengthens institutions, and coordinates across the agricultural value chain, ensuring sustainable adoption and impact.
The long-term success of AKILIMO in Ogun State relies on institutional ownership and partnership. Embedding the innovation within OGADEP, supported by state and local government commitment, ensures continuity beyond external projects. Lead farmers drive community-level knowledge transfer and peer learning, while the AKILIMO Nigeria Association (ANA) coordinates nationwide scaling through a multi-stakeholder platform. Transparency, digital monitoring, and open data access further enable evidence-based decision-making and real-time learning, reinforcing sustainability.
AKILIMO’s journey in Ogun State has faced challenges such as limited resources, logistical constraints, and digital literacy gaps. These obstacles prompted innovative solutions, including refresher trainings, improved digital tools, and strengthened partner coordination. Its expansion to crops like maize and rice demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness to farmers’ evolving needs, reinforcing the tool’s relevance across regions and agricultural systems.
The recognition of Ogun State farmers for their sustained application of AKILIMO highlights that true agricultural transformation occurs when innovation is locally owned, policy-supported, and institutionally embedded. Through collaboration with OGADEP and ANA, AKILIMO has become a model for co-created digital solutions that empower farmers, strengthen institutions, enhance livelihoods, and create lasting impact, proving that sustained commitment and systemic support can drive meaningful, enduring change in agriculture.
