Evolution of Agriculture in Nigeria: Colonial Era to Modern Times

1. CONTS. • Crop rotation is a planned sequence of growing different crops on a piece of land year after year. • It is mostly practiced where land is scare (D) COMMERCIAL FARMING Agriculture has become a profit, making venture, business or commercial enterprise, undertaken strictly for profit-making in this modern era, as against subsistence farming , although, the later can still be found in rural areas or a modified form of it. Commercial agriculture is , therefore , the type of agriculture where the farmers produces crops and animals for sale, to make profit . Cash crops are produced as well as for industries. A farmer may farm specifically for cash or profit by specializing in the production of specific crops like cocoa, oil palm, rubber, groundnuts, and animals like poultry, cattle etc. This is known as commercial agriculture.

2. Differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture(The two main type s of agriculture) • Subsistence agriculture • Commercial farming • Production is geared towards family consumption • Agriculture is done on small scattered pieces • Uses local tools like hoes and machetes instead of mechanized implements • Mixed cropping is mostly practised • It requires small capital. • Agricultural chemicals are hardly used. • Does not require a well developed market. Surplus is exchange or sold in local markets. • .Production is for sale to make profit 2. Agriculture is done on large expanse of land. 3. Agriculture is highly mechanized 4. Mono-cropping is mostly practiced 5. It demands large capital 6. There is massive use of agricultural 7. Demands well developed markets sale of agricultural products.

3. The c:olonial Era: During the colonial era , local agriculture was practised with the use of crude tools e.g hoes, cutlass etc ..the advent of the colonial master changes the face of our production from food crop production to cash crops with force . The colonial master bought these cash crops from the farmers to service the need of their home countries . The activities of the colonial master introduces Nigeria farmers into the rural plantation farms and individual commercial farms since farmers realized that the production and sale of these cash crop then yielded money to buy the exotic goods like radio, cars e.t.c. and to enjoy higher standards of living. In this era, the government took steps to develop agriculture in the following ways: In 1893,, a botanical research station was set up in Lagos by Sir Claude McDonald. In 1899 land was marked out as moor plantation Ibadan, to carry out experimental work. In 1912, departments of Agriculture were establised in the Southern and Northern Nigeria. Later, it was regionalized with a director and inspector-general for each region. Since then, research , extension and mechanization has continued to expand till date

4. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA • The c:olonial Era: During the colonial era , local agriculture was practised with the use of crude tools e.g hoes, cutlass etc ..the advent of the colonial master changes the face of our production from food crop production to cash crops with force . The colonial master bought these cash crops from the farmers to service the need of their home countries . The activities of the colonial master introduces Nigeria farmers into the rural plantation farms and individual commercial farms since farmers realized that the production and sale of these cash crop then yielded money to buy the exotic goods like radio, cars e.t.c. and to enjoy higher standards of living. In this era, the government took steps to develop agriculture in the following ways: • i. In 1893,, a botanical research station was set up in Lagos by Sir Claude McDonald. • In 1899 land was marked out as moor plantation Ibadan, to carry out experimental work. • In 1912, departments of Agriculture were establised in the Southern and Northern Nigeria. Later, it was regionalized with a director and inspector-general for each region. • Since then, research , extension and mechanization has continued to expand till date

5. MODERN TIMES (POST- INDEPENDENCE ERA) In the mid 1960s Ministry of agriculture and natural resources was established to facilitate modern agriculture in Nigeria and massive food production .this was truncated due to oil boom discovery, resulting in the migration of the young school leaver to the urban cities in search of white collar jobs . This greatly affected the production of food. With the oil glut and decline in oil income, the government declared austerity measures and took steps that re-emphasized agriculture. In 1970, Lt. General Olusegun Obasanjo, the then Head of State launched “operation Feed The Nation” (OFN) as means of increasing food production In 1980 , President Shehu Shagari, in the same vein launched “Green Revolution” programme. In 1984, General Muhammadu Buhari introduced “Back- to – Land programme National Accelerated Food Production programme (NAFPP) Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)

6. OTHER PROGRAMME INTRODUCED TO DEVELOP AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA Mechanization of agriculture through use of machines, tractor e.t.c Establishment of farm settlement schemes to resettle youths and school leavers in agriculture. Establishment of plantations to raise commercial export cropss Establishment of Rivers Basin Development Authorities programme Establishment of Marketing Board and Commodity Boards Establishment of agricultural research institutes. Agricultural subsidies and loan scheme for farmers. Agricultural education and extension programme. NOTE : ALL THESE PROGRAMMES ACHIEVED GREAT RESULTS

7. PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS • Land tenure system operated in an area Solutions: 1.Small fragmented land can be pulled together 2.Government should reemphasis the land use decree of 1978 • Lack of basic amenities in the rural area • Solutions: These amenities should be provided in villages to discourage this rural-urban drift • Poverty/Lack of finance to Purchase more land, Agricultural inputs, e.t.c Solutions: Subsidies and loan should be adequately provided to farmers • Inadequate transportation and communication network system Solution: Government should construct good roads network • Inadequate Storage and processing facilities Solution: Cold storage should also be used where possible (ii) chemicals and other relevant chemicals should be used to control post-harvested pest. • Inadequate Agricultural Education and Extension. Solutions: Ministry of should establish demonstration plots (ii) Agricultural extension workers should be more devoted in the education of these farmers.

8. Poor Tools and Machinery • Solution: Tractor hire service has been introduced by several states and local governments in Nigeria to ease the tediousness of work • Shortage of farm inputs • Solution: Government should supply and provide money for farmers to procure these things. • Poor Attitude towards agriculture and tendency to regard it as a job for drop-outs and never-do-well. • Solution: Mechanization will help to lift up the status of agriculture. • Problems of Pests and diseases that attack crops and animals. • Solution: Proper quarantine of new stock should be ensured, and use of resistant varieties should be adopted. (ii) The government should also provide agricultural chemicals for the control of pests and diseases, at subsidized rates. • Assignment For Week One. • Define the term (a) Science (b) Technology • State 5 (five) areas where agriculture has being improved by science and technology in Nigeria. • Mention 3 (Three) problems encounter in the adoption of science and technology.

9. ASSIGNMENT FOR WEEK TWO What was the early man’s occupation ? Explain ,i. crop rotation ii.Shifting cultivation State 3 (Three) differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture Mention the full meaning of the following agricultural programme: OFN, ADP and NAFPP. IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ALL THE JS3 STUDENTS MAKE SURE THAT YOU COPY ALL THESE NOTE IN YOUR AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE NOTE BOOK THAT YOU USED IN JS2 IF YOU STILL HAVE SOME SPACES LEFT, BUT IF IT HAS FINISHED YOU CAN PICK A FRESH NEW NOTEBOOK AND ATTACH THE OLD NOTEBOOKS TO THIS NEW ONE REMAIN BLESSED