THE PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF AGRICULTURE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF EDO STATE

Abstract

In Igbo, Agriculture use to be the main export product such as cocoa, groundnut, rubber etc that was to generate foreign exchange to the economy? But later in the 1970s agriculture was neglected and left to suffer, this have contribute to the problem of agriculture. This study is to examine the problem and prospect of agriculture in economic development of Edo State. The objectives of this study are as follow; To identify the problem facing agriculture in the economic development of Edo state, To suggest possible solution to the problem that have emanated. Some of the problem identify in this study are as follows: lack of capital, illiteracy, poor marketing facilities, etc. Some of the hypotheses used for the study are as follows: inadequate funding leads to low productivity, failure to adopt modern techniques of agriculture, practices leads to low productivity.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Agriculture sectors is one of the earliest sector, it starts when man has to survive as gathering of fruits and nuts. He has depended on the natural burning of the forest and water body. It is only recently as perhaps ten thousand year ago that man began to adopt and attempt to domesticate animals and plants. He began the transition from primitive hunting and gathering and the practices of animal’s husbandry and tilling of the land. At first, he did this unconsciously but as time passed he consciously selected the better forms of animals and pants for breeding purposes. This process has to continue to accelerate to modern times and has gone so far that the common agricultural crops and animals of today are very unlike the wide forms. In modern times men consciously selected both plants and animals according to the well-established principles of genetic inheritance and breeds form more closely adapted to his requirement. Agriculture is a sinequanon to any economy for an economy to develop well the agricultural sector must be given a dynamic role to play. Inspite of the important role of agriculture in Edo state, the people or citizen have vague ideal that agriculture is concerned only with soil cultivation. But a more comprehensive definition according to Olyyemi (1975) defined agriculture as the cultivation of soil and the feeding and management of crops and livestock for the use of man, the disposal of those products for marketing. In some nation, agriculture sector is give priority because it provide raw material for the industrial sector, food and meat for the development of man, food and shelter are basic necessities for human consumption are both originated from farming activities. Whether one work in secondary or territory sector, without agriculture, the final output which we rely upon cannot be achieved. As regard to the important, agriculture provides employment opportunities to the labour for through direct employment into agricultural and interrelated industrial and manufacturing sectors. For this, sector contribute efficiently, there is need for better decision making and implementation, good management and adoption of cost production techniques distributive channels, marketing, research for better pricing system, recognition of the availability of land including soil preservation and provision of storage facilities. Farm out become low because the system of farming still involves the use of simpler farm tools like cutlass and hoe on proper knowledge on how to apply chemicals to those crops. Capital investment is small and modern input like fertilizer and improved seeds are still not widely use by most of the farmers. As developed and industrialized countries like United State of America, Germany, Canada, etc agriculture still ranks high in their government privities. This is so because it provides them on alternative sources of foreign reserve, as well as internal, direct and indirect economic benefits derived from balanced terms of trades with other countries. Be that at it may, poor performance of the agriculture sector to provide adequate food for the growing population declining productivity of most exported crops which has contributed to substantial reduction in foreign exchange earnings and declining condition of agricultural products to gross domestic products in the real terms.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Due to the fact that agriculture play an important role in the development of the economy of Edo state, some problem are still associated with the production of agriculture. The attitude of the farmer towards production of crops, little did they know about new technology of modern farming. Most farmers are still stick to their old ways as a result of the use of crude equipment in farming such as cutlass, thereby reducing the yield in production. Cultural consciousness had made some farmers to willing object to the use of farming technique because of some cultural belief that if the modern system is applied, the crops will not do well or the gods of the land will not be happy with them as such they restrict the production to a particular location, no need for expansion, this will lead to low productivity. The fact that most our farmers are low level income earners, they cannot invest on the purchase of machine that could have boost their production. Also most people are of the mind that agriculture is simply farming as a matter of fact, it’s meant for the low level people, this has made many of them deviate from the farming practice.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The major objectives of the study are:

1 To identify the problems facing agriculture production in Edo state.

2 To examine the role of agriculture in economic development of Edo state.

3. To suggest possible solution to the problems that have emanated.

4 To make appropriate recommendations to the farmers or modern use of farming techniques.

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHEESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀: there are no problems facing agriculture production in Edo state

H₁: there are no problems facing agriculture production in Edo state

H₀²: there is no role of agriculture in economic development of Edo state

H₂: there is role of agriculture in economic development of Edo state

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The role of agriculture is a sinequanon in the economic development of Edo state, as a matter of fact; the importance of agriculture will be enumerated. Agriculture provides the basic for requirement of the population. Man needs some essential nutrient for nourishment of the body growth. It also supplies many of the raw materials for industry for the manufacture of goods for the use of man. Agriculture provides income and employment for the majority of the population. Around ninety percent (90%) of the population of West African employed in agriculture in Nigeria, seventy (70) percent of the figure are slightly below the average for the whole west Africa but even in the country, the great majority of the population depend on agriculture for income and employment. Agriculture exports are of great importance in earning foreign exchange of the country that buys these product pay for them in their own currency. This money got as a result of exchange of agricultural goods can be used to purchase some vital goods like capital goods which help in the economic development of the nation or state.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study covers the problems of agriculture in the economic development of Edo state and emphasis will be laid on some specific area of production, such as crops. Like cassava, maize, etc also animal productions like chickens, goat to mention but a few. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

PROBLEM: A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.

PROSPECT: The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.

AGRICULTURE: Agriculture is the cultivation and breeding of animals, plants and fungi for food, fiber, bio fuel, medicinal plants and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.

ECONOMIC: Economics is “a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services”. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work

DEVELOPMENT: The process of developing or being developed.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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