10 Undeniable Importance of Agriculture in Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, home to approximately 220 million people. What is the importance of agriculture in Nigeria? What role does agriculture play in Nigeria, though, given that the country’s population is rapidly outgrowing its resources?

For a very long time, agriculture has been one of the most important economic sectors in Nigeria. For the majority of Nigerians, it is essential for ensuring food security, nutrition, and a means of subsistence. It makes a major contribution to the expansion of the economy in terms of value-added production, employment, and foreign exchange profits.

This article will go over the significance of agriculture in Nigeria and why it continues to be a vital component of the country’s economy. We’ll look at how rural areas benefit from a healthy agriculture industry, how technology can push for more efficient techniques, and whether or not government initiatives have further increased efficiency in this important industry.

Importance of Agriculture – What Role Does Agriculture Play in Nigeria?

1. Availability of Food for Both People and Animals

In Nigeria and around the world, agriculture is the primary source of food for both people and animals. It offers a variety of foods, including fish, grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. This makes it easier to guarantee that everyone in the community has access to a healthy, balanced diet. Additionally, it supplies animal feed, which is necessary for the production of animals and the expansion of the national economy.

Both human and animal survival rates would decline in the absence of agriculture. Humans were nomadic and lived off of hunting and gathering before agriculture was developed. However, the advent of agriculture allowed people to congregate in one area, establish communities, and create civilizations.

Agriculture is still essential today to feed the world’s expanding population. In addition to providing basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, it is essential to world economies.

A catastrophic collapse of agriculture would result in widespread starvation, disease, and the dissolution of society. For this reason, it’s critical to guarantee that agriculture remains effective and sustainable.

2. Availability of Rubber and Cotton for Clothes

Agriculture not only produces food but also the raw materials needed to make other goods, like clothes.

One of the most essential raw materials used in the clothing business is cotton, a crop that is widely grown for textiles. It produces a range of goods, such as linens, towels, jeans, and t-shirts. It’s also well-known for being durable, soft, and absorbent, which makes it a perfect fabric for clothes.

Another significant agricultural commodity used in the apparel industry is rubber. It is made from the sap of rubber plants and used to construct a variety of goods, such as gloves, shoes, and clothes elastic.

Rubber is renowned for its stretchability, toughness, and water resistance as well. For this reason, it’s the perfect material for clothes and shoes.

In order to meet the rising demand for apparel and other commodities, these and other agricultural products are indispensable to the production process.

3. Supply of Medicines and Pharmaceuticals

Additionally, agriculture supplies the basic resources needed to produce pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies. Farmers are able to grow a wide range of therapeutic plants through agricultural operations. These plants have active ingredients that can be isolated and utilized to make medications.

In order to make traditional medicines, herbal crops are also gathered for their medicinal qualities. Moreover, a large number of synthetic medications come from plant sources.

Agriculture is very important in Nigeria for ensuring that people have access to high-quality healthcare. By creating wholesome foods that can aid in preventing malnutrition and other health problems, it contributes to food security. Through the preservation of native plant species that may have therapeutic value, agriculture also contributes to the conservation of biodiversity.

4. It Generates Employment

The fact that agriculture generates jobs is another benefit of it. To lower the high unemployment rate in the nation, the Nigerian government consistently encourages young people to pursue careers in agriculture. This industry offers a wide range of employment options, including positions for laborers, farmers, harvesters, technicians for agricultural equipment, and scientists.

Research has shown that investing in agriculture is a more effective way to reduce poverty than investing in other sectors. This is because it gives those who might not have access to other work opportunities jobs. For people who might not have access to other food sources in remote locations, it also offers food security.

Investing in agriculture opens up new markets for farming-related products and services, which further boosts economic growth.

5. Manufacturing of Industrial Raw Materials

A nation’s ability to supply industry with raw resources is critical to its economic stability. The primary source of raw materials for enterprises in Nigeria is agriculture. In the processing industries, these materials are necessary to produce a variety of goods. Many industries wouldn’t be able to make their goods without these raw resources.

The cost of production for firms can also be impacted by the availability of raw materials. The cost of getting raw resources from other regions or nations might be decreased if there is an abundance of them in one location. Businesses that rely significantly on these resources may see an increase in earnings as a result.

Additionally, having access to high-quality raw materials can raise consumer satisfaction and improve the quality of products. In order to encourage the expansion of local industry, governments must make sure that sufficient supply of raw materials are available.

6. It Maintains our Ecosystem and Heals the Environment

It takes agriculture to keep the environment healthy. Increasing biodiversity aids in improving soil quality, lowering erosion, preserving water, and encouraging beneficial pollinators. Agricultural operations can mitigate environmental risks including erosion and excessive wind control by afforestation.

Strong winds are lessened by planting trees as windbreaks, and farmlands aid in preventing soil erosion. Furthermore, numerous animal species have been spared extinction as a result of wildlife conservation initiatives that are primarily funded by agriculture.

Because agricultural operations release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, they also contribute to the reduction of air pollution. Carbon sequestration, or the process of storing carbon dioxide in plants and soil, is how this is accomplished. Using natural fertilizers rather than artificial ones, which can contaminate water sources, is another way that agricultural operations can contribute to the reduction of water pollution.

7. It Increases Nigeria’s Income and Wealth

Nigeria receives a large portion of its income from agriculture. It is projected that the sector adds about 19% to the GDP (gross domestic product) of the nation. As a result, it is crucial to Nigeria’s development and economic progress.

Farmers receive income from their operations, which they can use to pay for other products and services. This promotes employment creation and economic prosperity.

Taxes on agricultural products and other associated services are another way that agricultural activities can help the government make money. This income can be used to pay for the improvement of public health, education, and infrastructure.

8. It Enhances Mechanization and Technological Innovation

Technology is always changing, and this is particularly true for the agriculture industry. Improvements in agricultural technology have raised output and efficiency.

Modern farming equipment, including harvesters, tractors, and other technology, has increased farming productivity and ease of use. This has raised yields and revenues for farmers by enabling them to produce more food with less labor.

Furthermore, farmers can now employ precision farming methods thanks to technological breakthroughs. These methods use sensors and other technologies to track crop growth and soil conditions. This aids farmers in cutting expenses and increasing productivity.

Increasing the availability of raw resources for industry is another benefit of using contemporary machinery on agricultural land. Mechanization allows farmers to increase production efficiency and deliver more raw materials at a reduced cost for companies to use for further processing. In the end, this boosts economic growth because of higher industrial output and higher citizen living standards.

Additionally, mechanization lessens the harm that conventional farming practices—like overcultivation and excessive fertilizer and pesticide use—do to the environment. Thus, increasing agricultural mechanization is crucial for both economic growth and sustainable development.

9. Used in foreign exchange

Exports of agricultural products are a significant source of revenue and economic growth for the nation. Nigeria’s principal exports are agricultural goods such cotton, cocoa, palm oil, and rubber.

The nation receives a large amount of revenue from these exports, which may be utilized to finance other projects like the construction of public infrastructure. Furthermore, exports of agricultural products contribute to job creation in the nation, which accelerates economic growth.

The economies of developed countries also benefit greatly from agricultural exports. Even while these nations may not be as dependent on agriculture as they once were, it is nonetheless vital to their general economic well-being. Furthermore, they would experience dire economic repercussions if all agricultural exports were abruptly suspended.

Moreover, agricultural exports give those in rural areas who might not have access to other forms of employment the chance to find employment. Exports of agricultural products must thus continue to be a healthy component of the world economy.

10. Maintenance of Livestock

Livestock is a major source of food and other items for humans, and agriculture is essential to their survival. A vital component of agriculture is livestock farming, which entails the breeding, care, and management of animals including pigs, sheep, chickens, and cows. These animals yield a variety of goods, such as wool, dairy, eggs, and meat.

Because they aid in soil cultivation and fertilization, livestock are also crucial to preserving the health of the soil. Furthermore, because they provide food, clothing, and cultural legacy, animals are essential to many civilizations and groups.

Livestock depend on agriculture to provide the feed and fodder they require to survive and flourish. Agriculture may serve to support local and global economies while also serving as a dependable supply of food and other products for people worldwide through the sustainable management of livestock and the land on which they are raised.

In summary

The economy and society of Nigeria depend heavily on agriculture. Food, jobs, industrial raw materials, foreign exchange, and cattle sustenance are all provided by it. The nation can boost output efficiency and lessen environmental harm by investing in contemporary agriculture equipment and methods.

Agriculture is still essential today to feed the world’s expanding population. In addition to providing basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, it is essential to world economies. Precise crop yield forecasting is therefore a hot topic in the global agricultural industry, as it has the potential to guarantee years of agricultural sector stability.