ARTICLE SOURCE:
Department of Agriculture Economics
- University of Nigeria Nsukka
Agricultural policy makers in Nigeria
has been through dongoes over time, during each phase, the characteristics of
policy have reflected the roles expected of the sector and the relative
encoment of resources. In particular the emergence of petroleum as a major
source of revenue had meat that more revenue was available for funding of
programmes. It also meant that agriculture no longer commanded the same amount
of attention it did in the earlier periods.
These notwithstanding agricultural
policy had been dynamic; institutions were created while others were disbanded
depending on the experience of the time. Since then the marketing boards gave
way to commodity boards and production commodities, the river basin development
authority have been modified to meat changing objectives, small scals
irrigation scheme and receiving more attention than the earlier larger versions agricultural extension by the state ministries of agriculture has given way to extension by the agricultural
development project (ADP); technology
generated through the ADP
research institute farming systems research
Dialogue has been on going on key sub sectors of agriculture among
policy makers, practitioners and
development agencies, aimed at evolution of
more effective policies in the agricultural sector .
It is now
realized that food production. In spite of abundant production
of food, excessive hunge still does exist among the populace . Both
under and malnutrition could still coexist with apparent plentiful
supply of food. Many of the citizens
could still be deprived of good health and education in spite of high per capita
supply of food
Available, access and distribution of food and basic
needs have become important security
complements of food availability, the broad term, poverty
alleviation has assured an acceptable
battle cry for policy makers in
the food sector generally.