Agriculture is incredibly important in Nigeria! It’s a major sector that contributes to the economy and employs many people. Unfortunately, a decline has occurred in the agricultural traits of the country. The decline has caused a huge rise in the prices of food and the productivity of farming as investigated by Naijassador.
A decline in agriculture refers to a decrease or reduction in the overall productivity, output, or contribution of the agricultural sector to the economy. An agricultural decline can be caused by various factors such as changes in government policies, environmental challenges, lack of investment, urbanisation, or shifts in market demand.
Nigeria is known for its vast farmlands and hardworking farmers. But what happens when the agricultural sector of Nigeria becomes bridged? Is the government or the people to blame for the decline? Did the agricultural decline happen because of the negligence of the people? Specific answers aren’t accessible but one sure thing is that the government has a huge part to play.
An analysis that was carried out on the food sector shows that food has become much more expensive in the south-eastern region of Nigeria. Climate change, bad weather, and poor planting seasons have taken their toll on farmers but what is the way out? The low availability of farming machinery, infrastructures and amenities has made farming procedures tougher for the southeast people.
Few pleasures that these farmers used to enjoy before the decline include:
- Food Security
- Economic Contribution
- Job Creation
- Preserving Traditional Practices
- Environmental Sustainability
- Community Development
- Health Benefits
- Economic Diversification
- Stress Relief
- Sustainable Development
The government plays a crucial role in supporting and promoting agriculture in Nigeria. Rather than ignoring the decline of agriculture, the government should focus on implementing policies and initiatives to enhance the agricultural sector.
They should provide support through subsidies, loans, and grants to farmers, invest in infrastructure development, and facilitate access to modern farming techniques and technologies. The government should also encourage research and development in agriculture and promote agricultural education and training programs to strengthen the agricultural stand in the south-eastern region of Nigeria.