Agricultural Development Strategies and Policies in Nigeria: Simple List for Farmers' Reference.

Agricultural development strategy and policy is mainly established in form of initiatives to influence the pattern of resources allocation and utilization within the agricultural sector in order to improve the country economy.

The objectives of these agricultural programs is the attainment of self-reliance and self-sufficiency in the production of basic food requirements. This also helps promote the forward and backward linkage between agriculture and other sector of the Nigeria economy. Government setup these agricultural programs in order to also create equitable and reasonable level of distribution of income among food producers and the maintenance of good nutritional standards. By so doing, it helps generate employment opportunities in the agricultural sector to the unemployed populace.

In some parts of Nigeria states, farming is one way of making money and also to provide for the family. The farms, however, are dominated by small-scale farmers who are responsible for about 70% of the total production in the country. Fortunately, the government of some states have initiated a lot of programmes in order to help improve agricultural production.

In Nigeria, there are basically two forms of agricultural production. There is the "traditional productive system" and that of "mechanized system of production". Just like any other West Africa country, the traditional form of production dominates the bulk of the Nigeria cultivation. This system of agriculture is also known as "peasant farming", which is relatively small because it is meant for family consumption. 

Since independence, successive governments in Nigeria have been spending substantial amount of money on this sector. It was realized that the peasant farmer who is supposed to be the central figure in agricultural planning has not been given adequate attention. Thus, a lot of policy measures have been taken to revamp the sector; these include:

1. Encouragement of Establishment of Co-operatives - The farmers have to be given all necessary encouragement to establish co-operatives.

2. Acquisition of Modern Implements - Government has to acquire good and modern farming implements for the farmers.

3. Provision of Subsidy - Government does provide farmers with subsidies on Input, pesticides, fertilizers etc

4. Refinancing Facilities - Government also provides refinancing facilities for agricultural export commodities.

5. Direct Financing of the Various State Marketing Boards.

6. Joint Financing - Government has been embarking upon joint financing of agricultural investment with specialized institutions such as N.A.C.B

7. Administration of the Agricultural Guarantee Scheme.

8. Credit Guidelines - Government gives credit guidelines to bank on how to grant loans to farmers.

9. Commodity Pricing - Government also offers technical advice on commodity pricing.

10. Resource Mobilization.