A Critical Review of Agricultural Production Theoretical Issues in Nigeria

Olorunniyi, Abraham Ayo¹ and Sennuga, Samson Olayemi^2*

¹Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, FCT, P.M.B. 117, Abuja, Nigeria.

²School of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Road, Cirencester, Gloucester, United Kingdom, GL76JS.

*Corresponding Author’s Contact Detail: Email address ✉: dr.yemisennuga@yahoo.co.uk

Accepted December 26, 2021

The study critically reviews the theoretical issues and agricultural production in Nigeria. It used time series data on a comparative analysis to analyze the Federal Government percentage budgetary allocation to agricultural sector under military and civilian regime. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, variance, means/averages and frequency tables. The analysis was also supplemented with appropriate figure, line and graph. The Semi log model was also used to ascertain the effectiveness of Federal Government agricultural expenditure policies. The study revealed that Federal Government budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector have enormously been unstable since 1984, from 1999; when civilian regime came on board budget allocation to agriculture hit its peak. There was however a decline due to the reduction in revenue, arising from the falling oil prices and particularly, the policy reform measures under the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). The results indicated that the military regime (1984–1998) and the civilian regime (1999 – 2014) had mean percentage budgetary allocation of 4.08 and 4.73 respectively. Further tests of significance between the allocation of the respective regimes and that of the entire period (1984 – 2014) indicated that the mean allocation was 4.42 for the aggregate regime (1984 – 2014) and also statistically significant at 1% for both regimes. Time variable was significant in influencing percentage budget allocation at 1% in the military regime and civilian periods and was insignificant in the aggregate regime. In the estimated growth rate model, the slope coefficients of 0.127, -0.103 and 0.011 for military regime, civilian regime and the entire periods respectively was obtained.

Key words: Theoretical issues, agricultural production, budgetary allocation, public policy.

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