Problems of Agricultural Development and Possible Solutions – SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Problems of agricultural development are the factors that stop farming in Nigeria from growing and producing more.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State the main problems of agricultural development in Nigeria.
2. Explain how each problem affects farmers and farm production.
3. Suggest possible solutions to each problem.
4. Describe how cooperative societies, government support and extension workers help farmers.

What are the key terms in this topic?

These terms appear often in the problems and solutions below.

• Land tenure: the system by which people own, hold or use land.
• Interest rate: the extra amount a borrower pays a lender on a loan.
• Collateral: property or a guarantee a borrower gives a bank to secure a loan.
• Subsidy: money paid by the government to make inputs cheaper for farmers.
• Cooperative society: a group of people who pool resources to help one another.
• Extension worker: a trained person who teaches farmers improved farming methods.
• Agricultural inputs: items used in farming, such as fertilizer, improved seeds, pesticides, herbicides and machinery.

What are the problems of agricultural development in Nigeria and their possible solutions?

There are fifteen main problems, and each one has possible solutions.

1. Inadequate land and the land tenure system

The land tenure system makes it hard for farmers and investors to get enough farmland.

Effects

• Communal ownership: land is often owned by families or communities, so no person can claim sole right over it.
• Difficulty for investors: people with capital find it hard to obtain land for farming.

Possible solutions

• Land Use Act of 1978: review it and enforce it properly.
• Abandoned land: put it to use for farming.

2. Inadequate basic and social amenities

Rural areas, where most farming is done, lack basic amenities.

Effects

• Missing services: electricity, pipe-borne water, health care and schools are scarce.
• Slow development: farming areas are less attractive to farmers and investors.

Possible solutions

• Government action: provide electricity, medical centres and schools in rural areas.
• Community development: people should join hands to provide amenities themselves.

3. Poor financial status of farmers

Most farmers have too little money to invest in their farms.

Effects

• No modern inputs: farmers cannot buy machinery, improved seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides.
• Small output: farms stay small and yields stay low.

Possible solutions

• Cooperative societies: members pool resources, share benefits and obtain bank loans more easily.
• Subsidies: the government should reduce the price of agricultural inputs.
• Cheap loans: commercial and agricultural banks should lend to farmers at low interest rates.
• Guarantee as collateral: collateral security should be accepted in the form of a guarantee.

4. Loans and credit with high interest rates

Banks and other financial institutions normally charge high interest rates on the principal sums they lend.

Effects

• Fear of borrowing: farmers are discouraged from taking loans.
• Little expansion: farmers cannot enlarge their farms or buy inputs.

Possible solutions

• Lower rates: banks should lend to farmers at low interest rates.
• Group borrowing: farmers should borrow through cooperative societies.
• Government credit: the government should provide credit facilities to farmers.

5. Illiteracy of farmers

Most farmers have little formal education.

Effects

• Hard to learn: farmers find it difficult to understand modern farming methods.
• Basic education needed: some education is required to read instructions and use new methods.

Possible solutions

• Mass literacy programmes: the government should organise them for farmers.
• Demonstration farms: establish them in strategic locations to train farmers.

6. Transportation problem

The lack of an efficient transport system adversely affects agricultural production and development.

Effects

• Poor roads: roads are generally bad and badly maintained.
• Difficult movement: farmers struggle to carry produce from villages to cities.
• Low prices: farmers are forced to sell at local markets at relatively low prices.

Possible solutions

• New roads: the government should construct roads leading to food-producing areas.
• Railways and waterways: build them to link rural and riverine areas to urban centres.
• Rehabilitation: repair existing damaged roads.
• Fuel and spare parts: supply them regularly at affordable prices to reduce transport costs.

7. Inadequate storage and processing facilities

Farmers lack facilities to preserve excess produce or convert it into another form.

Effects

• Wastage: a large proportion of farm produce is wasted every year.
• Forced sales: farmers sell when prices are low and get little returns.

Possible solutions

• Modern storage: the government should provide silos, cribs and cold rooms at affordable prices.
• Processing machines: millers and threshers should be supplied at a subsidised rate.
• Training: educate farmers on how to use modern processing and storage facilities.
• Private investment: individuals and corporate bodies should invest in processing farm produce.

8. Poor marketing system

The system through which farm products are sold does not give the farmer the full reward for their labour.

Effects

• Low reward: farmers earn too little for the work they put in.
• Low output: farmers are discouraged from producing in large quantities.

Possible solutions

• Price stabilisation: the government should stabilise prices of farm produce through the marketing board.
• Better storage: farmers can then hold produce until prices improve.

9. Pests and diseases

Pests are organisms that damage farm produce, and pathogens are disease-causing organisms.

Effects

• Loss of produce: both reduce the quantity and quality of crops.
• High cost: controlling pests and diseases raises the cost of production.
• Low income: the damage reduces farmers’ income.

Possible solutions

• Cheap agrochemicals: supply pesticides and other agrochemicals at a subsidised rate.
• Research: research institutes should develop disease-resistant varieties.

10. Poor agricultural inputs

Many farm inputs are out of the reach of farmers.

Effects

• High cost: fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and machinery are expensive to buy and maintain.
• Low yield: farmers who cannot afford them get reduced farm yields.

Possible solutions

• Subsidies: the government should subsidise the price of agricultural inputs.
• Timely supply: improved inputs should reach farmers at the right time.

11. Unfavourable climate

Unfavourable climate generally discourages serious farming.

Effects

• Low rainfall: it leads to poor harvests.
• Low sunlight intensity: it reduces the rate of photosynthesis and eventually lowers yield.

Possible solutions

• Irrigation: provide irrigation facilities for dry periods.
• Drainage: provide drainage facilities where there is too much water.
• Insurance: provide insurance policies against crop losses.

12. Use of crude tools

Many farmers still use simple tools such as the hoe and cutlass because they cannot get modern implements.

Effects

• Slow work: crude tools limit the rate of production on farms.
• Small farms: farmers can only cultivate small areas.

Possible solutions

• Cooperative purchase: farmers form cooperative societies to buy modern machines and use them in turn.
• Local fabrication: the government should encourage local making of suitable intermediate machinery.
• Credit: the government should give farmers credit to buy modern machinery.

13. Inadequate number of extension workers

There are too few agricultural extension agents to teach farmers improved methods.

Effects

• Little advice: many farmers never learn improved farming methods.

Possible solutions

• More workers: train and employ more extension workers.
• Incentives: give extension workers more incentives.

14. Inconsistent government policies on agriculture

Government agricultural policies change often and fail to recognise peasant farmers.

Effects

• Neglected farmers: peasant farmers produce food for the country but are overlooked.
• No access to inputs: most of them do not receive the farm inputs provided through the policies.

Possible solutions

• Dynamic policies: the government should formulate suitable agricultural policies and implement them.
• Recognition of rural farmers: policies should reach genuine farmers.

15. Natural hazards and environmental degradation

Some agricultural land has been degraded by flooding, soil erosion, water logging and similar hazards.

Possible solutions

• Afforestation: plant trees to protect the soil.
• Cover crops: plant them to hold the soil and reduce erosion.
• Terracing and strip cropping: use them on sloping land to slow runoff.
• Insurance: provide insurance policies against losses.

How do cooperative societies help farmers?

Cooperative societies help farmers by letting them work and buy together.

• Pooling resources: members combine their money to do what one farmer cannot.
• Loans: members obtain bank loans more easily.
• Machinery: members buy modern machines and use them in turn.

Who are agricultural extension workers and how do they help farmers?

Agricultural extension workers are trained people who teach farmers improved methods of farming.

• Teaching: they show farmers modern methods, which helps where illiteracy is a problem.
• Demonstration: they use demonstration farms to train farmers.
• Support: they need more training, employment and incentives to reach more farmers.

Evaluation

1. Explain how the land tenure system limits agricultural development.
2. Why do high interest rates discourage farmers from borrowing?
3. List four solutions to the transportation problem.
4. State three ways in which pests and diseases harm farmers.
5. State two ways in which cooperative societies help farmers.

Assignment

State five problems of agricultural development in Nigeria, suggest two possible solutions to each, and say how extension workers can help solve one of them.