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Agriculture
(including hunting, forestry
and fishing) contributed an
estimated 32% of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) in
1998 to the Nigerian
economy. An estimated 35.2%
of the labour force was
employed in the sector in
that year. The principal
cash crops are cocoa (which
accounted for only 0.7% of
total merchandise exports in
1995), rubber and oil palm.
Staple foods include rice,
maize, taro, yams, cassava,
sorghum and millet. Timber
production, the raising of
livestock (principally
goats, sheep, cattle and
poultry), and artisan
fisheries are also
important. According to
World Bank estimates,
agricultural GDP increased
at an annual rate of 2.9% in
1990-98.
The
sector remains the largest
contributor to the Nigerian
economy, accounting for over
38% of the non-oil foreign
exchange earnings, and
employing about 70% of the
active labour force of the
population. Although, the
sector has suffered much
neglect by the Federal
Government since the
discovery of petroleum in
commercial quantity in 1958,
but its importance cannot be
over emphasised in the
Nigerian economy.
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Here, we present to you Gurus' of our
land in the Agricultural Sector!
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