Role of Government in Agricultural Development – SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (First Term)

The role of government in agricultural development is to plan, fund and support farming through its ministries of agriculture so that the country produces more food, jobs and raw materials.

• Policies and programmes: the government states its goals and draws up programmes to reach them.
• Regulations: it makes laws such as plant and animal quarantine rules.
• Money support: it grants loans, credit facilities and subsidies.
• Research and education: it finances research institutes and trains farmers.
• Farm settlements: it sets up planned farming communities.
• Animal health: it supplies vaccines and quarantine services.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. state the goals of agricultural policies in an underdeveloped economy;
2. differentiate between an agricultural programme and a plan;
3. list government programmes for agricultural development in Nigeria;
4. explain the roles of government in providing farm inputs, amenities, storage, extension, education and quarantine services;
5. name research institutes in Nigeria and their locations.

What are the roles of government in agricultural development?

The government has nine main roles: policies, programmes, farm inputs, amenities, storage, extension, education, quarantine and research.

1. What are agricultural policies?

An agricultural policy is a statement of the goals a government wants to reach in farming.

Policies in any underdeveloped economy may have the same goals:

• Food crops: to increase the production of suitable food crops.
• Population needs: to meet the needs and changing tastes of the growing population.
• Export crops: to increase the quality and efficiency of producing the major export crops demanded by the world market.
• Employment: to provide jobs through the establishment of large farms.
• Raw materials: to supply the essential raw materials needed by local industries.
• Livestock: to increase livestock production so that diets contain more animal protein.

2. What are agricultural programmes and planning?

A programme is a projection of what is to be done in future to carry out a policy.

A plan is an organisation of goals and the means for attaining those goals.

Which government programmes support agriculture in Nigeria?

Nigeria has many programmes for agricultural development, listed below.

3. How does the government provide farm inputs?

Farm inputs are either provided by the government or subsidised so that peasant farmers can buy and use them.

• Fertilisers: supplied at lower prices to improve soil fertility.
• Improved seeds and seedlings: give higher yields than local types.
• Agrochemicals: pesticides and herbicides that control pests and weeds.
• Tools and machines: tractors and other equipment that ease farm work.
• Livestock inputs: vaccines, drugs and improved breeds.

4. Why does the government provide basic amenities in rural areas?

Basic amenities reduce the movement of able-bodied men and youths from rural to urban areas, so that they stay and farm.

• Roads: carry farm produce to markets.
• Water: pipe-borne water or boreholes for homes and farms.
• Electricity: supports processing and storage.
• Schools and health centres: make rural life more comfortable.

5. Why does the government provide storage and processing facilities?

The government provides storage and processing facilities in all parts of the country to prevent food wastage and to provide food in periods of scarcity.

• Storage: silos, barns and warehouses keep grains and tubers for a long time.
• Processing: turns raw produce into products such as flour, oil and garri.
• Benefit: farmers lose less produce and food is available all year.

6. What is the role of government in extension services?

Extension services are the work of officers who carry new ideas and innovations to rural farmers.

• Employment: the government employs qualified and experienced extension officers.
• Teaching: officers show farmers improved methods of planting, spraying and storage.
• Link with research: they carry research findings to farmers and farmers’ problems to researchers.

7. Why does the government provide agricultural education?

Agricultural education teaches farmers and students the skills of modern farming.

• Adult education: some Nigerian farmers are illiterate, so adult classes teach them to read and write.
• Acceptance of ideas: literate farmers accept new and improved techniques more easily.

8. What are quarantine services?

Quarantine services are government checks that stop foreign pests and diseases from entering and spreading in the country.

• Regulations: the government makes plant quarantine laws.
• Inspection: imported plants, seeds and animals are checked at entry points.
• Vaccines: the government supplies vaccines to control animal diseases.

9. How does the government support research?

The government sets up research institutes to improve local crop varieties and animal breeds and to solve crop and animal problems.

10. What are credit, subsidies and farm settlements?

These are three ways the government helps farmers directly.

• Credit: loans given to farmers, often at low interest, to buy inputs and equipment.
• Subsidy: part of the cost of an input is paid by the government, so farmers pay less.
• Farm settlement: a planned community where farmers receive land, houses and services.

Evaluation

1. State four goals of agricultural policies in an underdeveloped economy.
2. What is the difference between a programme and a plan?
3. Why does the government provide basic amenities in rural areas?
4. Why does the government make plant quarantine regulations?
5. Name three research institutes and state where each is located.

Assignment

State five roles of government in agricultural development in Nigeria, and give five examples of research institutes in Nigeria with their locations.