It was recently disclosed that Nigeria spends about N280 billion or the equivalent of $2 billion annually on the importation of basic food items like sugar, rice, wheat, milk and vegetable oil. It is also on record that, Nigeria is the 4th largest importer of wheat from the United States of America, about 1,842 metric tonnes are imported annually. Similarly, Nigeria leads in the global importation says the Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research.
In the area of yam production, Nigeria produce some 6 million metric tonnes annually and more than 50 percent of world total output but Nigeria exports only 5 percent of this amount. It is equally sad to note that, between 25 to 40 percent of farm produce are lost annually because of limited silos for shortage as well as low development of agro-allied industries. It is a well known fact that in the 60’s, Malaysia came to Nigeria to get palm oil seedlings, today, Malaysia is the largest producer of palm oil and they make about $11 billion annually. Ditto Cote d’Ivoire which is the largest producer of cocoa and the third largest producer of coffee in the world.
It is on record that presently, agriculture employs about 70 percent of active labour force in the country. It is also instructive to observe that between 1962-68, the first post-independence National Development Plan was predicated on agriculture and agricultural development in all its ramifications in the country.
It has been projected that by year 2005, Nigeria should be able to produce 5 million tonnes of rice while it should also be able to produce 1 million hectares from vegetable oil. But in the case of rice, out of 90,000 hectares of irrigable land used, only 10,000 hectares is presently being put into use. It is also on record that agriculture accounts for 32 percent of the GDP in the country in 1998, and agriculture also accounts for 35.2 percent of the labour force in 1998..
Point Source
PracticalSustenance.Net