The Agricultural And Food Sciences - 1713 Words

UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCES Internationally Educated Agrologists Post-Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IEAP) AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA AGRI 4000-PRACTICING THE PROFESSION OF AGROLOGIST Nathaniel Akinkunmi 7764897 Introduction The agriculture industry in Nigeria has opportunities that are not maximized due to challenges it is facing. Background Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of 177,155,754 and was governed by the British government till October 1st, 1960 when Nigeria gained independence. The Capital of Nigeria is Abuja located in the centre of the country. Nigeria is located in West Africa between Benin and Cameroon. Natural resources include natural†¦show more content†¦Food security is still a major issue in Nigeria as a large percentage of the societies are agrarian societies. The government has to concentrate more on the development of modern technology and increase financial investment in the agricultural sector. Nigerian agricultural productivity is still low when compared to major producers in the world (FAO, 2013). It has both human and natural resources that can make it to be among the best economies in the world. Nigeria has been working on reform agenda for the past few years. Furthermore, economic growth is targeted towards domestic market. This is driven by strong performance of agriculture, trade, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors. However, this strong economic growth has not led to higher employment rates. Unemployment is still a major issue in Nigeria. The government addresses the public’s dissatisfaction in its governance with promises to make job creation a priority. Nigerian government is targeting information communication technology (ICT), entertainment, meat, leather, and construction and tourism industries for job creation. Nigeria is made up of about 200 ethnic groups. There are more than 400 languages in Nigeria. The main ethnic groups are Hausa-Fulani in the North, Ibo in the Southeast and Yoruba in the Southwest. Nigeria plays a key role in the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS)(The World Bank,