Manuscript Information Authors

[1]	Oluwafemi R. A., Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.

Abstract

Nigeria is richly blessed with abundant natural resources prominent among which is agriculture with vast hectares of land for crop production including tree crops, cash crops, horticulture, timber and wood, livestock production, forestry and wildlife, as well as rivers and ocean with wide variety if fishes. Yet, Nigeria is considered a developing Nation due among other things to poor policy implementation which over the years has resulted in underutilization and poor management of these naturally endowed resources. Like some other developing countries in the Continent, hunger, unemployment, poverty and other developmental challenges abound. This paper considers politics, corruption and inconsistencies in governance as the root cause of poor policy implementation resulting in negative socio-economic development. The negative impacts of this situation on the livelihood of Nigerians were highlighted. Apart from the existence of Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the establishment of agricultural development related projects and programmes like Operation feed the Nation, National Agricultural Land Development Agency, Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development bank, Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme and Agricultural Universities/Institutes to mention a few, are yet to make meaningful impact especially to the livelihood and well-being of rural dwellers which constitutes over 70% of the population. The challenges are enormous but the resources are abundantly sufficient to provide sustainable solution to them. The author therefore suggested that those who are saddled with policy implementation and stakeholders at all levels should consider the plight of over 70% of 150 million Nigerians and be committed to carrying out effective and sustainable implementation of laudable agricultural and rural development oriented policies.

Keywords

Agriculture, Policies, Implementation, Challenges, Rural Development, Resource Management

Reference

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