Federal ministry of agriculture in Nigeria primarily deals with the agricultural development in Nigeria. This department was established in the year 1966 as a result of the need of agricultural development in Nigeria. Federal ministry of agriculture Nigeria consists of five sub departments. These are fisheries, agricultural research, agriculture and national resources, forestry and veterinary research.
The role of the ministry is to promote the development of agriculture and management of related natural resources to achieve sustainable food security and production of agricultural raw materials to meet the needs of Nigeria’s expanding industrial sector and export market with the effect of enhancing farm income and reducing poverty.
The goal of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to promote the development of agriculture, rural development and management of related natural resources in an environmentally-friendly manner to achieve sustainable food security and production of agricultural raw materials to meet the needs of our expanding industrial sector and export market with the effect of enhancing farm income and reducing poverty
Nigeria has the congenial climate, fertile soil, huge manpower and resources which are the necessary factors for good agricultural production. Nigeria also has that potential to provide raw materials for the need of the industry. Indeed, Nigeria has the climatic conditions, soil, water resources and available manpower sufficient not only to feed its own population but also to make it a significant food exporter. There is also a tremendous potential for crops that provide raw materials for industry.
Before oil, Nigeria had oil. With oil were the crops groundnut (peanut), cocoa and rubber. These crops were cultivated in large quantities and exported to Europe and America in the pre-1960s and early ‘60s.
With military incursions into Nigerian government and the dependence of petroleum products as the foremost foreign exchange earner, attention to the agricultural sector dwindled. Nigeria’s groundnut pyramids disappeared, the oil palm plantations vanished and farming went back to a subsistent level. With a burgeoning population, it became increasingly difficult to feed the teeming masses and the country resorted to importing food to supplement the one grown at home.
The agricultural initiative of the Obasanjo Administration has seen to the restriction of the importation of some types of food and cash crops to encourage local farmers to compete. The highly fertile Nigerian soil makes it easy to cultivate the following:
Cassava, Yams, Melon, Maize, Millet, Sorghum, Cowpeas, Bananas (plantains included) Palm oil, Groundnuts.
Nigeria’s cash crops include:
Tobacco, Groundnuts, Cocoa beans, Rubber, Gum Arabic, Kola nuts, Beniseed, Cotton, Soyabean, Palm kernel, Cashew nuts
Nigerian manufacturers find it convenient to grow their raw materials here. Hence there are cotton farms, orange plantations, tea plantations (on Mambilla Plateau) and coconut groves all sources of raw materials for Nigerian industries.
Opportunities also abound in the cultivation of various species of fish. Fish farming is on the rise in Nigeria with several hundred thousands of tons of fish harvested annually in the country. The grasslands of the Northern part of the country are ideal for ranching and the rearing of cattle and other livestock.
For more information contact:
Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources
FCDA Sec. Complex, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, PMB 135 Garki, Abuja.
Tel: (09) 3142622, 3146509, 3143987, 3142914,
Fax: (09) 3140347, 3140945, 3144392
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