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Agricultural Trade Balance and Food Self-Sufficiency: Implications for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

2011-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Agricultural Trade Balance and Food Self-Sufficiency: Implications for Sustainable Development in Nigeria Authors: Olayide, O.E.; Ikpi, A.E.; Okoruwa, V.O.; Akinyosoye, V.O. Abstract: Nigeria used to boast of high surplus in agricultural trade and food self-sufficiency, especially in the 1960s. Today, Nigeria has lost the leading position it once occupied as it is now a major importer of food and agricultural commodities. Nigeria now spends billions of naira on importation of food and agricultural products. This situation is paradoxical as Nigeria is well-endowed with the requisite natural and human resources needed to be food self-sufficient. Besides, most governments are adjudged as successful or failure on the basis of meeting the basic needs of their citizens in terms of food. This study analyzed agricultural trade and food self-sufficiency in the context of policy development scenarios including, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and democratic governance paradigms. Data used for the analyses spanned from 1970 to 2007. Descriptive and trends analyses were employed to analyse agricultural trade variables. Statistical inferences were drawn from the comparative analysis of the policy development scenarios. Agricultural imports for the study period witnessed increasing trend. There was agricultural trade imbalance as Nigeria remained a net importing nation. In all development policy scenarios, there were significant (p<0.01) increases in total imports, total exports and net imports. Overall, national food self-insufficiency averaged 29.35 (± 4.08) percent. Therefore, with 71 percent level of food self-sufficiency and high levels of food and agricultural commodities importation, Nigeria needs effective food and agricultural policy in form of import-substitution and building on comparative and competitive advantages to redirect and reverse the negative agricultural trade balance to favour improved domestic food production, agricultural industrialization and value addition with a view to ensuring sustainable agricultural and economic development in Nigeria.

Review and analysis of vulnerability to rainfall variability and policy responses to agricultural water supply in Nigeria

2016-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Review and analysis of vulnerability to rainfall variability and policy responses to agricultural water supply in Nigeria Authors: Olayide, O. E.; Tetteh, I. K.; Porter, J. R.; Popoola, L. Abstract: This paper reviewed and analysed vulnerability to climate change-induced rainfall variability and policy responses to agricultural water supply in Nigeria. The review provides evidence for policy feedbacks as well as priority setting for the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change variability is due to a number of factors: its geographical characteristics, limited capacity to adapt, dependence on climate-sensitive resources, teeming population, and concentration of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) generating industries in locations that are highly vulnerable to climate change. The poverty level in the country could further worsen climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. The policy responses were identified and categorized either as climate change sensitive or climatic change specific.

Trends and Policy Correlates of Agricultural Production and Agricultural Production Sustainability Outcomes in Ghana and Nigeria

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Trends and Policy Correlates of Agricultural Production and Agricultural Production Sustainability Outcomes in Ghana and Nigeria Authors: Olayide, O. E.; Tetteh, I. K.; Popoola, L. Abstract: This paper analysed policy correlates of agricultural production and agricultural production sustainability outcomes in Ghana and Nigeria. It underscores the influence of political systems and international development agendas as correlates of agricultural production and agricultural production sustainability outcomes. This is to the extent of providing evidence policy on agricultural production and agricultural production sustainability outcomes. Ghana and Nigeria have comparable farming/agricultural system and policy environment. Data used for the analyses spanned five decades. Trends analysis and inferential statistics were employed. The results revealed that policy correlates can contribute to the current discourse in sustainable development agenda and to resolving the dilemma of agricultural policy implementation for sustainable agricultural development, especially in Ghana and Nigeria. The findings reinforce the need for appropriate policies in transforming the agricultural sector while ensuring sustainable development outcomes.

Differential impacts of rainfall and irrigation on agriculturalproduction in Nigeria: Any lessons for climate-smart agriculture?

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Differential impacts of rainfall and irrigation on agriculturalproduction in Nigeria: Any lessons for climate-smart agriculture? Authors: Olayide, O. E.; Tettehb, I. K.; Popoola, L. Abstract: The rain-fed agriculture system is vulnerable to climate change impact. However, such impact may alsovary by aggregate and sub-sectoral levels of agricultural production. The impact of climate change andvariability on agricultural production would engender appropriate policies and practices towards a sus-tainable agricultural production system. We investigated the differential impacts of rainfall and irrigationon agricultural production in Nigeria, and drew lessons for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Nigeria.Using time series data that spanned 43 years and econometric analytical technique, we quantified thedifferential impacts of rainfall and irrigation on aggregate production and sub-sectors (all crops, staples,livestock, fisheries and forestry). Irrigation had positive and significant impact on aggregate agriculturalproduction as well as all sub-sectors of agriculture. These findings suggest the need for the minimizationof the impact of climate-induced production risks through CSA which would involve complementarydevelopment of more arable land areas under irrigation in Nigeria. Irrigation would also enhance com-plementary agricultural water management for the development of all the sub-sectors of agriculture,thereby enhancing food security and sustainable agricultural production under prevailing climate changeand variability.