An Assessment of the challenges and Prospects of Agriculture in Nigeria
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Date
2013
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Faculty of Social Sciences. Kogi State University, Anyigba
Abstract
Agriculture has been seen to play tremendous roles in economic development of many developing countries including Nigeria. This is evident from its contribution to GDP in these countries. This article assesses the challenges and prospects of agriculture for a period of fifty years (1960-2010) in Nigeria as a developing country. The paper is divided into four sections. Firstly, it provides conceptual clarifications of agriculture. Secondly, it discusses agricultural development and development planning. Thirdly, problems of agriculture in Nigeria were examined, and lastly, it suggests the way forward. Secondary data were sourced to examine the percentage contribution of agriculture to GDP. The trend in the percentage contribution of agriculture to GDP revealed that it has been falling since 1960 and between 2001 and 2010; there was no significant difference in its contribution. The article submits that agriculture should be improved upon so as to put an end to food crisis and poverty problems in the country.