Role Of Government In Agricultural Development SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

INTRODUCTION 

Agricultural activities are controlled or directed in one way or the other by the government through their ministries of agriculture. They draw up policies and programmes, make regulations for those concerned with agricultural development, grant loans or credit facilities and subsidies, finance research, establish farm settlements and supply vaccine and quarantine services.

ROLES OF GOVERNMENT IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Establishment of Agricultural Policies: Every country has its agricultural policies. Such policies in any underdeveloped economy may have the same goals which are summarized below:

• To increase the production of suitable food crops.
• To meet the needs and changing tastes of the growing population.
•  To increase the quality and efficiency of producing the major export crops as demanded by the world market.
• To provide employment opportunities through the establishment of large farms.
• To supply the essential raw materials which are vital to the development of local industries.
• To increase the production of livestock to supply animal proteins in diets.

1. Establishment of Agricultural Programmes and Planning: When a government has stated its policies, it draws up a programme for their execution. A programme is a projection of what is to be done in future; while a plan can be defined as an organization of goals and the means for attaining these goals. Some of the government programmes for agricultural development in Nigeria are listed below: Extension Services, Farm Settlement Schemes, Agricultural Loan Schemes, Credit Facilities, River Basins Development Authorities, National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, subsidies, Agricultural education and research, quarantine and vaccines, Operation feed the nation, Green revolution, Agricultural Development Project, DFRRI, National Agricultural Land Development Agency.
2. Provision of Farm Inputs: Farm inputs are either provided by the government or subsidized to enable peasant farmers to buy and use their inputs on their farms.  
3. Provision of Basic Amenities: The government decides to provide basic amenities in rural areas to decrease the migration of able-bodied men and youths from rural to urban areas so that they can stay and farm.
4. Provision of Storage and Processing Facilities: The government has decided to provide storage and processing facilities in all parts of the country to prevent food wastage and provide food in periods of scarcity.
5. Provision of Extension Services: The government has helped to employ qualified and experienced extension officers who carry new ideas and innovations to rural farmers.  
6. Provision of Agricultural Education: Since some Nigerian farmers are illiterate, the government decided to provide adult education to enable them to read and write, to accept new and improved techniques and innovations in agriculture.
7. Provision of Quarantine Services: Plant quarantine regulations are made by the government to prevent the introduction and distribution of foreign plant diseases and pests into the country.
8. Provision of Research Work: To improve the local varieties of crops and breeds of animals, the government set up some research institutes to provide solutions to crop and animal problems to improve production. Examples of such institutes are:

• Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Ibadan.
• Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) Benin.
• iii. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan.
• National Horticultural Research Institutes (NIHORT) Ibadan. 
• Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) Benin.
• Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Ibadan.
• Leather Research Institute of Nigeria (LRIN) Zaria.

ASSIGNMENT

1. State five roles of Government in agricultural development in Nigeria
2. Give five examples of research institutes in Nigeria