Agro produce in Nigeria
Agro produce in Nigeria is a branch of the economy in Nigeria, providing employment for about 30% of the population as of 2010. The sector is being transformed by commercialization at the small, medium and large-scale enterprise levels.
Dynamics
The usage of inorganic fertilizers was promoted by Nigerian government in the 1970s. In 1990, 82 million hectares out of Nigeria's total land area of about 91 million hectares were found to be arable. 42 percent of the cultivable area was farmed. Much of this land was farmed under the bush fallow system, whereby land is left idle for a period of time to allow natural regeneration of soil fertility. 18 million hectares were classified as permanent pasture, but had the potential to support crops. Most of the 20 million hectares covered by forests and woodlands are believed to have agricultural potential.
Agricultural holdings are small and scattered, and farming is carried out with simple tools. Large-scale agriculture is not common. Agriculture contributed 32% to GDP in 2001.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
In the past, Nigeria was famous for the export of groundnut and palm kernel oil. But over the years the rate of export of this produce has reduced. A few years back local Nigerian companies has commenced exporting groundnuts, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, moringa seeds etc. Local company such as Lantbruk Global Integrated Services Limited has paved the way for other firms to continue in elevating Nigeria agricultural system.
The country's agricultural products fall into two main groups: food crops produced for home consumption, and exports. Prior to the Nigerian civil war the country was self-sufficient in food, but increased steeply after 1973. Bread made from American Wheat replaced domestic crops as the cheapest staple food.Between 1980 to 2016, Yam production increased from more than 5 million tonnes to 44 million tonnes.
Tonnes produced in
|
1980
|
2000
|
2016
|
Maize
|
612,000
|
4,107,000
|
764,678
|
Millet
|
2,824,000
|
5,814,000
|
1,468,668
|
Guinea Corn
|
3,690,000
|
7,711,000
|
6,939,335
|
Yam
|
5,250,000
|
26,210,000
|
44,109,615
|
Cassava
|
11,500,000
|
32,697,000
|
57,134,478
|
Rice, paddy
|
1,090,000
|
3,298,000
|
6,070,813
|
Melon seed
|
94,000
|
345,000
|
569,398
|
Cocoyam
|
208,000
|
3,886,000
|
3,175,842
|
Sesameseed
|
15,000
|
72,000
|
460,988
|
Cocoa
Cocoa is the leading non-oil foreign exchange earner but the dominance of smallholders and lack of farm labor due to urbanization hold back production. In 1969, Nigeria produced 145,000 tons of cocoa beans, but has the potential for over 300,000 per year. For more productivity, Nigerian Government should give more incentives to cocoa farmers
Rubber is the second-largest non-oil foreign exchange earner.
Oil Palm
The palms industry constitutes a significant sector of the Nigerian economy, providing food and raw materials for the Food, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, Plastics and the Bio-energy industries. In Nigeria the institute that has valuable information about oil palm is the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research. The formal mandate of the institute is to conduct research into the production and products of oil palm and other palms of economic importance and transfer its research findings to farmers.
Cash crop production
Tonnes produced in
|
1980
|
2000
|
2016
|
Oil Palm fruit
|
5,750,000
|
8,220,000
|
7,817,207
|
Cocoa
|
153,000
|
338,000
|
236,521
|
Groundnut
|
471,000
|
2,901,000
|
3,028,571
|
Kola nut
|
135,000
|
82,000
|
143,829
|
Ginger
|
200
|
98,000
|
522,964
|
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