ABSTRACT
Rural development is a veritable tool for fighting
poverty and achieving economic prosperity at the grass root level. The concept
of rural development embrace by most countries connotes a process through which
rural poverty-is alleviated by sustained increase in the productivity of
agriculture and income of low-ncome workers and households. The major thrust
of this research work examined the impact of agriculture on rural development
in Nigeria. Six research questions and three hypothesis model were answered and
tested respectively. This project was centered on research methodology to analyse the importance in social and
economic advancement on the Nigeria economy in other to consider the
shortcoming of the agricultural sector and to formulate policy option that will
serve as a sort for improving the sector.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Objective of the
study
1.2 Significant
of the study
1.3 Scope of the study
1.4 Methodology
of the study
1.5 Limitation of the study
1.6 Statement
of problem
I .7 Research question
I .8 Research hypothesis
1.9 Plan
of the study
CHAPTER TWO
Literature review
2.0 Introduction
to the concept of rural development
2.1 Problem
of rural development in Nigeria
2.2 Strategies for rural development
2.3 The
need for rural development in Nigeria.
2.4 Rural
infrastructural development and national planning
2.5 Rural
development and agriculture
2.6 Nigeria
agriculture: characteristics, problems and prospects
2.7 Problem
of agriculture in Nigeria
2.8 The
impact of agricultural development on Nigeria economy
2.9 Agricultural
production and share in total GDP in Nigeria at 1979/ 1980
factor cost
2.9 1 Value
of agricultural exports to total export
2.9 2 Importance
of agriculture in economic development
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Restatement
of the research question
3.2 Restatement
of the research hypotheses
3.3 Model
specification
3.4 Analytical technique
3.5 Economics
criteria
3.6 Evaluation
criteria
3.7 Nature
and source of data
3.8 Statistical
test
3.9 Limitation
of methodology
CHAPTER FOUR
Data presentation and analysis
4.1 Data
analysis and interpretation of results
4.2 Empirical
analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation
5.1 Summary
5.2 Recommendation
5.3 Conclusion
Appendix: work sited
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In the early 80s attention began to shift the
overall development of the rural economy.
Although agriculture still remained the mainspring of interest in rural
sector.
Regional government however became the principle
agent of rural development attempting to strengthen and diversify the base of
the economy and also to improve social welfare and services.
As trend in the quality of life in developing
nations became clearer in 1990s, rural sector became a major concern of the
national government, a more comprehensive policy were adopted such as
agricultural development projects [ADP] The River Development Authorities [RDA]
and the green revolution .
The first integrated approach to develop the rural
areas was the establishment of the directorate for food, road and rural
infrastructure in 1989.This represents a more fundamental approach in solving
rural problems, although it has it shortcomings. This programme has since been
preceded by other equality viable and substantial programmes most contemporary
scheme are successors to earlier, invariably unsuccessful and usually
prematurely aborted programme.
At present, the need to enhance the overall and
rapid development of the rural sector of the economy has become important in
other to facilitate the development of the national economy. The slogan
"rural development" has become almost a household word and the
subject matter is so popular that is sure to be mentioned somewhere in the
Nigeria media each day of the year.
In Nigeria after independence, the agricultural
sector of the economy was an object of neglect; Nigeria has since been faced
with the challenges of economic disarray, to a country-living beyond its means
to a people bewildered for no longer being able to provide the basic necessities
of life for them selves.
According to Adekunle [1990], effort to develop
rural communities was basically directed towards agriculture. This means that
he rural man was not only viewed in term of what his needs were but also what
he could provide for his country. Although various agricultural policies that
were put in place by the government performed fairly well, they failed to
achieve the desired outcome as far as the development of rural sector is
concerned.
Subsequently, rural development were comprehensive
is this more fundamental approach in solving rural problems include the
establishment of directorate for food, road, rural and infrastructural [DFRRI],
the Better Life Program [BLP] the people bank of Nigeria [PBN] The Universal
Primary Education Programme, Nomadic Education Programme, The Mass Mobilization
Programme [MAMSER] and in recent time, The family support programme [FSP] and
the petroleum trust fund [PTF].
1.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study is to examine critically the
performance of rural development, agricultural development programme in Nigeria
to analyze the importance in the social and economic advancement on the Nigeria
economy to really consider the problem and shortcomings by the agricultural
sector and to formulate policy option that can be put in place to solve and improve
the rural sector development.
The study also shows that the Nigeria economy still
maintain the typical symptoms of subsistence agriculture which is mostly
dominated by small scale farmers who are responsible for about 95 percent of
the total output in Nigeria.
However, the rural economy of Nigeria which is
supposed to form the bedrock of national development has suffered undue neglect
starting from the colonial era till date. The direct consequence of this
neglect has been a direct decline in national output and the general standard
of living of the average Nigeria.
Hence, the rural or agricultural sector which has
been neglected for other sector must be developed with the introduction of
modern sophisticated tools to improve the agricultural sector so that food
security would be guaranteed in the economy and also the industrial sector
could have raw materials for their production.
1.2 SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY
Generally speaking, agricultural development of the
world, especially in the third world countries, are identified by their low
level of development compared to other centers, majority of rural dwellers
lives in standard houses, poor environmental and unplanned rural communities.
With over 50 percent of Nigeria population living
and working in rural area, there is no gain saying the fact that any
development strategies that neglect rural development will be a mirage for any
meaningful agricultural development. For agricultural development to be
achieved, the need for policy makers to have adequate understanding of the
type, character and dimension of the agricultural problems, the performance of
the past public policies at rural development and also the peculiarities of the
Nigeria rural situation cannot be over emphasized.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study will consider all policies and institution
put in place within the framework of this research. It will focus on multi-sectorial
programmes as the present a more dynamic and integrated approach to rural
development.
The performance of the various agricultural
development programmes will be evaluated in line with selected socio-economic
indicators to determine the: extent of the influence of the programmes on the
rural development.
Given the scope and complexity of this research
work, the research will mainly deal with government actions toward agricultural
development and agricultural programme in Nigeria. The study will be for a
period of 20 years between 1990 and 2009 since this was the period when
successive government embark on reforms to intensify the development of rural
communities, although occasional reference will be made to dates outside the
scope of the years.
1.4 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
The analysis of rural development and agricultural
sector programme in Nigeria economy requires facts and figures gotten from both
primary and secondary sources which includes interviews, journals, published
books and newspapers.
The econometrics approach would be adopted to
examine the relationship government expenditure on agriculture and development
of rural areas and reduction of poverty in the economy. The ordinary least
square method [OLS] will be used .This econometrics method will be used because
it is reliable and is usually used in economics research.
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Several problems were encountered during the process
of gathering data among which are
1. The relative short period for collection
and completing the research work did not allow for the in depth survey into the
concept rural development and agricultural programmes.
2. The
financial constraint was another militating factor that has to count.
3. Lack of comprehensive, up to date and
publish statistical data was another problem. This problem has led public
researcher to conclude that Nigeria is still living in statistical Dark Age.
1.6 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Developing the rural sector in Nigeria follows
difference incentives; agricultural sector has been neglected as an important
variable that contributes to this development in Nigeria. Much of this
development in the rural area has to be caused by industrial development;
provision of social amenities etc. this work therefore tends to examine the significant
of improving agricultural sector for rural development in Nigeria.
1.7 RESEARCH QUESTION
(1) What incentive can be adopted in the
agricultural sector to enhance rural development?
(2) What impact can government spending on
agricultural commodities generate on rural development in Nigeria?
(3) Can improvement in government spending on
agricultural sector reduces the level of unemployment in Nigeria.
(4) Will investment in the agricultural sector
has any impact on macro economic variables such as; unemployment, income
output, and interest rate etc.
(5) What has been the contribution of
agricultural sector to economic growth and development?
(6) Is there any relationship between
agricultural sector and development in other sectors?
1.8 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis I
Ho:
There is no relationship that exists between government expenditure on
agricultural commodities in rural areas and unemployment.
HI: There exist relationship between
government expenditure on agricultural commodities in rural areas and
unemployment.
Hypothesis II
Ho:
There is negative relationship between government expenditure on agricultural
sector and the level of unemployment.
HI: There is positive relationship between
government expenditure on agricultural sector and level of unemployment.
Hypothesis III
Ho:
There is no correlation between contribution of agricultural sector and
economic development.
HI: There is correlation between
contribution of agricultural sector and economic development.
1.9 PLAN OF THE STUDY
To give chance for thorough presentation of
agricultural programme and rural development in Nigeria .the project will be
divided into five chapters. The first chapter shall contain introduction,
objective of the study, the research questions, etc that would guide the:
study. Chapter two would present the literature review on the subject matter.
The methodology to be adopted in the study would be stated in chapter three.
Chapter four shall focus on presentation, analysis of data and interpretation
of regression result. The last chapter would present the summary of the
findings, conclusions and appropriate recommendation.
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