Problems Of Agricultural Development And Possible Solutions SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

Some of the problems of agricultural development and their possible solutions are:

1. Inadequate Land / Land Tenure System: There is the problem of enough agricultural land production as a result of the situation arising from the system of land. Land is communally owned in Nigeria and no person can lay sole right over the land. People who have capital find it difficult to obtain land for investment.

SOLUTION:

(i) Reviewing and enforcing the Land Use Act of 1978. 

(ii) Abandoned land should be put to use

2. Inadequate Provision of Basic/Social Amenities: Inadequate provision of amenities like electricity, pipe-borne water, health care, schools, etc. in rural areas is part of the problem hindering agricultural development in Nigeria.

SOLUTION:

(i) The government should provide basic social amenities such as electricity medical centres, schools e. t. c. in rural areas.

(ii) People should join hands together to engage in community development.

3. Poor Financial Status of Farmers: Farmers find it difficult to invest considerable capital in their farming activities because of their poor financial status. They cannot acquire modern farm inputs like machinery, improved seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides etc.

SOLUTION 

(i) Farmers should form cooperative societies to pool their resources together to benefit members and for easy procurement of loans from banks.

(ii) The government should subsidize the price of agricultural inputs.

(iii) Commercial and agricultural banks should make loans available to farmers at low interest rates.

(iv) Collateral security should be in the form of a guarantee.

4. Loan and Credit with High Interest Rate: The interest rate that is normally charged on the principal sums by banks or other financial institutions is high. This discourages farmers from borrowing.
5. Illiteracy of the Farmers: Most of the farmers are not educated and cannot understand the modern farming approach because basic education is needed.

SOLUTION: 

(i) Mass literacy programmes should be organized by the government to educate farmers.

(ii) Demonstration farms should be established in strategic locations to train farmers.

6. Transportation Problem: Lack of an efficient transport system also adversely affects agricultural production and development. The roads are generally poor and badly maintained. This makes it difficult for farmers to transport their products from villages to cities and forces them to sell at local markets at relatively low prices.

SOLUTION: 

(i) The government should construct roads leading to food-producing areas.

(ii) Construction of railways and waterways to link rural and riverine areas to urban centres.

(iii) Rehabilitation of existing damaged road.

(iv) Regular supply of fuel and spare parts at affordable prices to reduce transportation costs.

7. Inadequate Storage and Processing Facilities: The farmers lack adequate storage facilities to preserve or convert excess farm produce into another form. This results in the wastage of a reasonable proportion of farm produce annually or the farmers are forced to dispose of them when prices are low thereby getting little returns.  

SOLUTION: 

(i) Government should provide modern storage facilities such as silos, cribs, and cold rooms to farmers at affordable prices.

(ii) The government such as millers and threshers should be made available to farmers at a subsidized rate.

(iii) Farmers should be educated on how to make use of modern processing and storage facilities.

(iv) Private individuals and cooperate bodies should invest in the processing of agricultural produce.

8. Poor Marketing System: The system through which agricultural products are been sold does not allow the farmer to get full benefit or reward for their labour, this discourages farmers from producing in large quantities.

SOLUTION:

(i) The government should stabilize prices of agricultural produce through the marketing board.

9. Problems of Pests and Diseases: Pests, which are organisms capable of damaging farm produce and pathogens which are disease-causing organisms render a lot of havoc to agricultural produce thereby reducing the quantity and quality. The cost of controlling these pests and diseases increases the cost of production. Pests and diseases reduce the farmers’ income.

SOLUTION: 

(i) Pesticides and other agrochemicals should be made available to farmers at a subsidized rate.

(ii) Development of disease resistance varieties by the research institutes. 

10. Poor Agricultural Inputs: Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and machinery are not within the reach of farmers and some are expensive to purchase and maintain. This leads to a reduction in farm yield.

SOLUTION: 

(i) The government should subsidize the price of agricultural inputs

(ii) Improved farm inputs should be made available to farmers at the right time.

11. Unfavourable Climate: This generally discourages serious farming activities. Low rainfall leads to poor harvest of crops and low sunlight intensity reduces the rate of photosynthesis which eventually leads to low yield.

SOLUTION: 

(i) Provision of irrigation facilities.

(ii) Provision of drainage facilities

(iii) Insurance policies.

12. Use of Crude Tools: Farmers lack access to modern implements or machinery.  This affects the rate of production in their farms.

SOLUTION: 

(i) Farmers should form cooperative societies to purchase modern machines and use them in turn.

(ii) The government should encourage local fabrication of suitable intermediate machinery.

(iii) The government should provide credit facilities to farmers to enable them to purchase modern machinery.

13. Inadequate Number of Extension Workers: Few agricultural extension agents have the responsibility of teaching the farmers the improved method of farming.

SOLUTION: 

(i) There should be more training and employment of extension workers. providing more incentives to agricultural extension workers.

14. Inconsistent Government Policies on Agriculture: Government policies fail to recognize the peasant farmers who produce food for the country.  Most of the farmers do not have access to farm input provided through such policies.

SOLUTION: 

(i) The government should formulate dynamic agricultural policies and implement them.

(ii) The policies should recognize genuine farmers (rural farmers)

15. Natural Hazard/Environmental Degradation: Some of the agricultural land has been degraded due to the effect of flooding, soil erosion, water logging etc.

SOLUTION: 

(i) Afforestation

(ii) Planting of cover crops

(iii) Terracing and strip cropping should be practised

(iv) Insurance policies

ASSIGNMENT 

1. State five problems of agricultural development in Nigeria and suggest two possible solutions to each.
2. Who are extension agents? 
3. Discuss the roles of agricultural extension in the development of agriculture in Nigeria.
4. Outline four possible solutions to the problem of natural hazards in agricultural development.
5. List five agricultural inputs