CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The role of agricultural sector in an economy cannot be overemphasized. The forward and backward linkages to the rest of the domestic economy, to the international market and with poverty alleviation are very strong. A bad year for agriculture due to natural calamities, like drought has extremely adverse effect on GDP growth, living standard of the population, manufacturing output, industrial output, price level, exportable surplus and balance of payments.

The primary purpose of agriculture to development and growth is to feed the people of the country. This role in food production is irreplaceable because the availability of adequate food supply disables scarcity that leads to higher prices and also most people must work to produce enough food for the population (Begg, 2003). Also maintaining a good food supply implies good health for the people hence increased, productivity which will promote economic growth. Output from the agricultural sector serves as input for the activities of the manufacturing, external and the industrial sector - which contributes greatly to economic growth. For example timber from trees is used to make paper, furniture, etc. Also secretions from some plants and trees have healing capabilities and are used to make medicine for the sick. Agricultural products include export goods like cash crops which serve as a source of foreign revenue for the country. In fact these other sectors need the agricultural sector in order to thrive. Agriculture also employs a greater percentage of the inhabitants of the area that is before the discovery of petroleum in Nigeria. This is largely because of the transition from subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture which is concerned with the production for food for the growing population, provision of raw materials for agro-allied industries (like those engaged in textiles, tobacco, sugar, leather, etc.) and generation of foreign exchange earnings. Even though Nigeria has a high poverty rate, it still has a higher GDP in comparison to other countries of Africa. Till now Nigeria has been trailing behind Western economies. Today, almost fifty years after gaining independence, Nigeria should compete with economies of the world rather than just African economies. The country is rich in natural resources and has identified the fact that taking appropriate measures can speed its economic development. With this foresight, it crafted the vision 20-20-20 program. This program aims to make Nigeria one of the twenty largest world economies bythe year 2020. The seven points in the 20-20-20 program are: power and energy, food security and agriculture, wealth creation and employment, mass transportation, land reforms security and functional education. The country seeks to become a leading economy in Africa and a major player in the world’s economic and political affairs and their 20-20-20 plan is their guideline. To become a developed nation, Nigeria needs to speed up its economic growth by focussing on vital economic sectors like education, energy, agriculture and manufacturing. At this point in Nigeria’s development, the best approach is to focus on the agricultural sector. By focusing on agricultural development, Nigeria can speed up its economic growth in the coming decade. Currently, Nigeria has 75 percent of its land suitable for agriculture, but only 40% is cultivated. That indicates there is much room for the county to focus on. This addresses the food security and agriculture component of their plan along with the focus on employment for all. However, to move forward, the country must increase the low productivity of current agricultural companies, engage competition within the agricultural sector, develop domestic policies and increase funding (Ayodele, Obafemi and Ebong, 2013).

In terms of the 20-20-20 plan for agriculture, growth promotion is the first goal. There are also goals in the areas of livelihoods improvement, sustainable development and policy and institutional reforms. This involves conducting agricultural surveys, and establishing smallholder fattening schemes for livestock. It also includes the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructures and expansion of those structures as well. There is also a call for a 1,000 capacity community farm center; there is also a plan for increasing the effectiveness of fish hatcheries by establishing parent stock programs and there will also be vaccination programs for livestock. There will be a revision of the guaranteed minimum price system for crops and livestock; as well there will also be government training for the first 10,000 new agricultural workers (Ayoola, 2009).

One component in determining how to use agriculture to improve economics in Nigeria is to evaluate the historical efforts in terms of agriculture that Nigeria has engaged in since its independence. This will ensure that the country does not repeat past mistakes. In addition, this evidence will demonstrate whether or not it is feasible for agriculture to be a primary factor in Nigerian economic development. Along with historical factors, there must be an evaluation of both internal and external factors that could impact the Nigerian agriculture market. In addition, it is important to identify the strategies needed to enhance economic growth through the use of agriculture.

The agricultural sector is a prominent feature in the Nigerian economy and it has basically remained the same since 1960. This was before the discovery of oil. Sustaining agricultural production is one of the pre-requisites for improving the living standard in any economy. "The Nigerian economy underwent profound structural changes during the 70's and 80's. It was once an agriculturally-based economy and a major exporter of cocoa, peanuts and palm products. Today, Nigeria relies mostly on oil for more than 90% of its export earnings, 30% of its GDP, and 70% of its federal budget resources. Neglecting sectors like agriculture has caused the Nigerian economy to be in economic stagnation and decline" (Todaro and Smith, 2003).

From the mid-1970s, crude oil became the main export product of the Nigerian economy. The economy has said to be suffering from the Dutch Disease because of the over-reliance on the oil sector at the expense of other sectors hence the need for the diversification of the economy. The diversification is especially important because of the volatility of the international oil market on which we solely depend on. This has necessitated the examination of the role of the agricultural sector in our country. Despite the huge amounts invested in agriculture and the various policy measures aimed at the re-activation of agriculture, such as the Operation Feed the Nation and the Green Revolution by various governments since the 1980's, no meaningful headway was observed. Food production has not been keeping pace with the rapid population growth rate. The introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986 by the Babangida administration laid much emphasis on sustaining agricultural production in which several measures were taken to revive this sector, to which no sustainable growth has been recorded.  The purpose of this study therefore is to examine the role of agriculture in economic development of Nigeria.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Although the impact of agriculture in an economy is great, the neglect of this sector in Nigeria especially by the government, has led to many problems ranging from increased food prices to unemployment, low standard of living, low national income. The neglect of this sector is evident in the various problems that plague the agricultural sector including farm mechanization, primitive implements, transportation and storage problems, low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, little or no credit/finance facilities, land tenure system etc.

It is regrettable that after about 37 years of oil and gas exploration in Nigeria, the country has not been able to effectively develop other resources/sectors to complement the role of crude oil in the economy. The backbone of the economy plus the other sectors, including the manufacturing and industrial sector, have been neglected to cause the total reliance on the oil sector. The volatility - unstable and unpredictable nature of the crude oil market specifically the declining oil prices - has been known to impact the economy adversely. Experience has also shown that the nation cannot continue to rely on a single resource for its economic development. Hence the challenge is how to develop and harness the potentials of Nigeria's agricultural sector towards economic growth. The agricultural export earnings have been falling, virtually continually from a level of $389.58million in 1961, a rate of 2.45% per annum to $218.41 million in 2008 which is below 2%. (CBN Annual Report 2008 and Statistical Bulletin 2008), the fall became rapid in the mid-seventies of the oil-boom era. The foreign exchange earnings in millions of Naira were more or less stagnant until after 1985 when the Naira depreciated considerably against the US dollar and other foreign currencies. So the nominal growth in earnings represented a fall in real terms, as inflation rates exceeded this growth. Hence there is the need for revolutionary change In policy formation and implementation in this sector.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The broad objective of this study is to evaluate the role of the agricultural sector in the economic growth and development in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are:

1.           To examine the impact that the agricultural sector plays in the Nigerian economy.

2.           To assess the trend of government expenditure on agricultures in Nigeria.

3.           To proffer policy recommendations for economic growth through the agricultural sector.

1.4    RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The following hypothesis would be tested empirically for these studies are;

Hypothesis 1

Ho: The Nigeria's agricultural sector has not contributed significantly to the economic growth and development of the country.

Hi: The Nigeria's agricultural sector has contributed significantly to the economic growth and development of the country.

Hypothesis 2

Ho: There is no significant impact of agricultural earnings on economic growth in Nigeria

Hi: There is significant impact of agricultural earnings on economic growth in Nigeria

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It would be wrong to assume that lack of growth of the agricultural sector is solely responsible for the lack of economic growth and development in Nigeria; however it can be used to know the extent to which growth has been achieved over the years. "Even with the discovery of the oil market in the mid- 1970s, the Nigerian economy has continued to perform below its capabilities characterized by low output growth, high unemployment rate and rising inflation" (Jhingan 2001). The economy's reliance on the international oil market leaves it vulnerable to external shocks which can cripple the economy. It is therefore essential to study the contributions of the agricultural sector as it was considered the mainstay of the economy. This study will show the interrelationship between the sector and the industrial sector of the economy.

This study will be of benefit to the government officials in charge of the budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector. By understanding the importance and crucial role played by the sector to the economy, especially to the industrial and manufacturing sector, more attention by the government will be felt and more functional reforms will be established in favour of the sector and overall economy. This study will also show how much the agricultural sector has contributed to the economy in terms of export earnings, food prices, inflation rate, raw materials, hence, it will reveal the growth of the economy and how the economy can grow via the agricultural sector. This study will reveal the various opportunities for growth in the industrial sectors of the economy through the agricultural sector hence investment prospects for both private and public enterprises. Also the results from this study will lead the society into a more balanced economy i.e. equal development of the individual sectors of the economy.

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to the role of agricultural sector in the economic growth and development in Nigeria. Another major limitation of this study is the reliability on secondary data. Different governmental agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics often present similar data on the same items. Most government related data are often influenced for political purposes and this may jeopardize the findings of the study.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

AGRICULTURE: The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Economic development is the process in which a nation is being improved in the sector of the economic, political, and social well-being of its people. The term has been used frequently by economists, politicians, and others in the 20th and 21st centuries.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concerned with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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