Abstract
Nigeria is a tropical country with a population of over 135 million. Over 70% of the population are engaged in agriculture as their primary source of income and despite low investment by the previous governments, it still contributes over 39% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The large land mass, good soil and climatic conditions favour the growth of various crops during the year and the rearing of many animals. Food shortage is a major challenge to the present government apart from political disputes, disturbances in oil producing states in the Niger delta and poor funding of many other sectors particularly agriculture and education. Agricultural (including extension) policies over the years have been elaborate and attractive in most cases but they are only so on papers in the shelves in the government offices. Prospects for improvement and sustainable agricultural productivity exist because of the country’s endowment in natural resources especially abundant uncultivated arable lands, favourable climate and soils that are improvable as well as large human labour. These resources if well integrated can help boost agricultural production in the country. The present status demands adequate and prompt attention by all three tiers of government in the country viz: Local, State and Federal governments.Key words: Agriculture, natural resources, food shortage, government policies
Highlights
Geographical Conditions in Nigeria Location and landformsNigeria is bounded in the south by the Atlantic Ocean, with limits set by Gulf of Guinea (Bights of Benin and Biafra); the inland frontiers are shared with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin
The extensive analysis of work done in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Nigeria shows that about 42 % of the rain-fed cropped land in SSA have their major constraints to agricultural production related to low inherent soil fertility and nutrient imbalance while 36% have constraints related to sandy or stony texture (Lal, 2000)
The country is blessed with favourable biophysical environment which can ensure self-sufficiency in food and raw materials production with excess for export
Summary
Nigeria (fig.1) is bounded in the south by the Atlantic Ocean, with limits set by Gulf of Guinea (Bights of Benin and Biafra); the inland frontiers are shared with Cameroon (east), Chad (northeast), Niger (north), and Benin (west). To the north of the Niger and Benue basins are the broad, stepped plateau and granite mountains that characterize much of northern Nigeria. Such mountains are found in the southwest, in the region between the western coastal plains and the upper Niger Basin. Having been subject to weathering and erosion for long periods, the characteristic landscape of this area is extensive level plains interrupted by occasional granite mountains. These features form a major landscape type of Nigeria and of West Africa as a whole. There are rocks of sedimentary formations which overlay the older rocks in many areas
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