Agricultural policy makers in Nigeria
has been through doggones 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 pogrammes. It also meant that agriculture no longer commanded the same amount of attention it did in the earlier periods.
In particular the emergence of petroleum as a major source of revenue had meat that more revenue was available for funding of pogrammes. 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. Hen the marketing boards
gave way to commodity
boards and production comtemies, the river basin development authority
have been modified to meat changing
objectives, small seals irrigation sckenes and receiving more attention than the earlier larger versions agricultural extension by the state ministeries 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 hunger 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.
SOURCE: Department Agriculture Economics, University Of
Nigeria - Nsukka