Agricultural Policies in Nigeria: Impact on The Nigerian Economy

Abstract

The study made use of secondary data accessed from bulletins and published researches whose primary focus was on various aspects of agricultural policies right from colonial rule to contemporary Nigeria and how it has impacted today’s agriculture and economy in the country. The research showed Nigeria hadn’t any explicit National Agricultural Policy before 1988. At independence in 1960, the country’s planning and policies mostly targeted economic growth and development and largely unarticulated administrative pronouncements that guided the operations of agricultural activities. The 1988 National Agricultural Policy document by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (FMARD) was an executive fiat of the then Federal Government that aimed at improving agricultural production and the development of export markets. A look at chronicled submissions in literature suggests Nigeria’s agricultural policy was replete with limitations, showed a general lack of coherence, absence of continuity and an inadequate linkage to other sectors of the economy. Events suggest agriculture related policies were opportunistic and uncoordinated and many scholars bemoan the absence of continuity and lessons from preceding program memes never adequately analyzed.  These have made it difficult to track and evaluate policy effectiveness. At the institutional level, it is evident that roles are not clearly segregated among various administrative offices saddled with agricultural development. The study concluded that before the 1960s, the role of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy was of little interest.  However, with limited support from the government, agriculture thrived and provided food for the population, raw materials for the industrial sector, revenue and foreign exchange for government and employment opportunities for the citizens. Agricultural policies in Nigeria will be a success if perspective plans and policy discipline are tenaciously held on to. This will enable government link past policies and facilitate an orderly transition ensuring a seamless continuity.