INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key

development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated

species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture

began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago,

nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep, and cattle were

domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions

of the world. Industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture in the twentieth century

came to dominate agricultural output, though about 2 billion people still depended on subsistence

agriculture.

Modern agronomy, plant breeding, agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, and

technological developments have sharply increased crop yields, while causing widespread

ecological and environmental damage. Selective breeding and modern practices in animal

husbandry have similarly increased the output of meat, but have raised concerns about animal

welfare and environmental damage. Environmental issues include contributions to global

warming, depletion of aquifers, deforestation, antibiotic resistance, and growth hormones in

industrial meat production. Agriculture is both a cause of and sensitive to environmental

degradation, such as biodiversity loss, desertification, soil degradation and global warming, all of

which can cause decreases in crop yield. Genetically modified organisms are widely used,

although some are banned in certain countries.

The major agricultural products can be broadly grouped into foods, fibers, fuels and raw

materials (such as rubber). Food classes include cereals (grains), vegetables, fruits, oils, meat,

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milk, fungi and eggs. Over one-third of the world's workers are employed in agriculture, second

only to the service sector, although in recent decades, the global trend of a decreasing number of

agricultural workers continues, especially in developing countries where smallholding is being

overtaken by industrial agriculture and mechanization.

The Nigerian agricultural sector deserves to be studied not less for the contribution of such

knowledge to our understanding of the past, and present, but more for the usefulness of such

knowledge in shaping the sector. The role that agriculture plays in Nigeria’s national economy

since her independence may be determined by considering first, the changing structure of the

national economy. As the national economy changes, also the role of agriculture. The observed

structure at successive periods thus reveals the contribution that agriculture makes to the national

economy. A total picture could also be presented through an examination of the contribution of

agriculture to the gross domestic product GDP, over the years. It is also possible to add to the

above presentation, the annual production of each agricultural crop over the period, or the

productivity of the individual farmer as the years pass by. No doubt, the role of agriculture shall

not remain static, for as deliberate efforts are made to develop the economy, the agricultural

sector is also affected, although several endogenous factors also influence development within

the sector.

Agriculture in Nigeria is a branch of the economy in Nigeria, providing employment for about

35% of the population as of 2020. As reported by the FAO, agriculture remains the foundation of

the Nigerian economy, despite the presence of oil in the country. It is the main source of

livelihood for most Nigerians. The Agricultural sector is made up of four sub-sectors: Crop

Production, Livestock, Forestry and Fishing. In the third quarter of 2019, the sector grew by

14.88% year-on-year in nominal terms with a decline of 3.44% points from the third quarter of

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2018. The largest driver of the sector remains Crop Production as it accounts for 91.6% of the

sector in the third quarter of 2019 with a quarterly growth which stood at 44.12%. The

Agriculture sector contributed 29.25% to overall real GDP during the third quarter of 2019.

The sector is being transformed by commercialization at the small, medium and large-scale

enterprise levels. On the other hand, the Nigerian Agricultural sector has encountered several

challenges ranging from an obsolete land tenure system that limits access to land (1.8 ha/farming

household), a very low level of irrigation development (less than 1 percent of cropped land under

irrigation), limited adoption of research findings and technologies, high cost of farm inputs, poor

access to credit, inefficient fertilizer procurement and distribution, insufficient storage facilities

and poor access to markets and more recently, changes in average temperatures, rainfall, climate

extremes and infestation of pests and diseases causing organisms precipitated by climate change

pose great challenge to agriculture. This is coupled with a high dependence on rainfed

agriculture which has made the Agricultural Production System highly vulnerable to adverse

seasonal variations. These have all contributed to low agricultural productivity (average of 1.2

metric tons of cereals/ha) with high postharvest losses and waste in Nigeria.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE

1. Production and Provision of Food for Human Consumption

Among the basic needs of man, food ranks first. That’s why agriculture is often said to be the

first occupation of man right from the Garden of Eden.

In Nigeria today, there is a rising demand for food due to a continuous increase in the population

of the country. Agriculture ranks first on this list because of the food crisis that looms not only in

Nigeria but around the world.

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As life continues to bite harder, more and more attention is being shifted to food first before any

other thing. Thus, there is always going to be a continuously expanded market for agricultural

produce.

Virtually every branch of agriculture including horticulture, Poultry, animal husbandry, fishery,

and forestry, there is a high demand for food commodities, dairy products, and raw materials

produced in the sector.

2. Provision of Raw Material

The world will always be in need of raw materials produced in Nigeria to support their

manufacturing industry. Countries in Europe, Asia, and North America are keenly in demand for

raw materials such as timber, crops, animals skins, rubber, etc for the successful running of their

manufacturing sector.

Although they could get their raw materials around the world, especially Africa, Nigeria happens

to be the leading supplier of some of the most vital raw materials around the world.

3. Employment of Labour

Given the rate of unemployment in the country and the high demand for food commodities,

agriculture is practically the #1 sector with the highest level of employment in Nigeria.

As evidence, I have friends in Lagos whose cassava he planted with the luxury of time provided

by the Covid-19 lockdown had started yielding rewarding tubers. His interest in farming is now

so obvious as he is making plans to give more time, effort, and investment to agriculture in the

coming year. As I’m talking to you he is earnestly looking for additional land for that purpose.

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Pascal King is another of my Paddy who is into film making, entertainment and event planning,

but whose next project is an investment in agriculture. The world we currently live in is pointing

to agriculture and technology. Are you still in doubt? Listen to the news, you’ll be convinced.

4. Protection of the Environment

Agricultural activities, especially in the area of tree planting and cultivation of crops helps

protect the environment. The activities of land cultivators or Farmers contribute to the prevention

of erosion in the environment.

In the area of forestry, the environment benefits from the protection of trees against strong winds

and storms. There is increasing fear of the effect of global warming, tree planting which is the

main stay of forestry is of immense help to the country’s environment even while contributing

income to the economy.

5. Preservation of Species

Without the Farmers who continue to preserve species of crops and domestic animals, birds and

fishes through cultivation, husbandry, poultry, fishery and forestry; many species would have

gone to extinction.

Through agriculture that has been in practice over the ages, species in various sectors of

agriculture are preserved from generation to generation. Some have even gone through

improvement processes like crossbreeding which aid in producing better grades of crops,

animals, fowls, fishes and trees.

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6. Foreign Exchange

As a modern nation, Nigeria cannot do without participating in Foreign Trade and there will be

no balance of payment according to Economists if Nigeria only buys from her global

counterparts.

The importance of agriculture, therefore, as regards Foreign Trade is that it helps the country to

exchange her agricultural produce such as cocoa, palm oil, palm kernel, animal skins etc. with

foreign goods brought into the country.

7. Boost Export

Exportable goods in Nigeria such as timber, rubber, cocoa, ethanol and many more are all

products of the agricultural sector of the economy. Most of the raw materials needed for

successful operation of manufacturing sectors in these countries are agricultural produce from

Nigeria. The export sector of Nigeria would be incomplete without agriculture which apart from

crude oil represents the country’s major source of export goods.

8. Means of Subsistence

Although modern technology has brought revolutionary development to global agriculture

where most Farmers in the international system are involved in mechanized farming using high-

tech machinery and equipment; majority of Nigerian Farmers still operate at subsistence level.

Most Farmers in Nigeria are actually not much concerned about the commercial aspect of

agriculture, all they care for is to produce what can sustain them and their families. What they

care to sell sometimes is simply as much as trade by barter where they sell just a fraction of their

farm produce to get other commodities for their consumption.

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Despite the fact that a large number of the Nigerian population are in white and blue colour jobs

while some are into one business or the other, a greater percentage are actively engaged in

agriculture to earn their living. Experience even shows that even those who are into white colour

jobs e.g. Civil Servants are partially involved in one form of agriculture or another. For instance,

about 70 percent of Poultry farms in some states of the federation are owned by Civil Servants

who use it as additional supply for their family needs.

9. Source of Interdependency Among Tribes

Agriculture in Nigeria plays a very significant role in unifying the many tribes of Nigeria

through Interdependency in agro-products. For instance, the southern part of the country

produces palm oil and fruits such as orange, etc while the North specializes in the production of

beans and vegetables such as carrot, onions, beef and dairy products. This creates a kind of

mutual relationship among the regions that transcend tribalism and the deep sited ethnicity in the

country.

10. National Income

Agriculture generates revenue to the national purse through taxes collected mostly by local

governments in form of ticketing and gains made from international trade.

11. Agriculture Brings Poverty Reduction

One of the major benefits of agriculture is the reduction of poverty and the improvement of lives

in rural areas; in other words, agriculture saves lives, brings sustainability and development to a

nation.

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According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on – FAO supports

countries to develop evidence-based policies to eradicate poverty, 75% of the world’s poorest

people lives in the rural areas; therefore, agriculture has a key role to play in these countries.

Two questions that come to mind are:

How can agriculture alleviate poverty?

Agriculture will alleviate poverty directly or indirectly through the introduction and practice of

sustainable agricultural practices.

Evidences has shown that agriculture has direct impact on poverty reduction through agricultural

development in a country. As a matter of fact, it has direct impact on economic development

outside of the agricultural sector.

In addition, agriculture can alleviate poverty through the following ways:

Increased farm productivity;

Help increase food supply;

Create employment opportunities (see below); and

Reduces cost of food prices.

As shown above, Nigeria and other developing countries can alleviate poverty by focusing on

long term crops and livestock; with minimal effect on the environment.

and for the second question on

How can we reduce poverty in rural areas?

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Poverty can be reduced in rural areas by helping farmers to increase their quality of life; in

addition to practicing sustainable agriculture.

CONCLUSION

Agriculture play an important role in the economic development of a nation. As shown above, it

is important not only for the production of food for local consumption, but also as a source of

income to both individuals (and corporate entities) and government.

As we engage more in agricultural activities, we give ourselves more chances of enriching our

pockets and our bank accounts. Therefore, for those asking the question – Why is Agriculture

Important? You could clearly see that without agriculture, we cannot survive; furthermore, it is

has economy importance to our country.

For Nigerians to see the full importance of agriculture and the role it play in the country’s

economic development, it is important to realize the need to embrace agricultural practices. By

doing so, we are given our nation the opportunity to be rich again.

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REFERENCE

Safety and health in agriculture. International Labour Organization. 1999. p. 77. ISBN 978-92-2-

111517-5. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2010.

defined agriculture as 'all forms of activities connected with growing, harvesting and

primary processing of all types of crops, with the breeding, raising and caring for

animals, and with tending gardens and nurseries'.

Anametti Ntukidem , 2000; the role of agriculture in the Nigerian economy since independence.

Kurukulasuriya, Pradeep (2013). "Climate Change and Agriculture: A Review of Impacts and

Adaptations". Climate Change Series 91 Environment Department Papers, World Bank,

Washington, D.C.

Olayide, Olawale Emmanuel; Tetteh, Isaac Kow; Popoola, Labode (December 2016).

"Differential impacts of rainfall and irrigation on agricultural production in Nigeria: Any

lessons for climate-smart agriculture?". Agricultural Water Management. 178: 30–36.

YBay, 2019; What is Agriculture?, and What are the Importance of Agriculture to our Society.

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