The Giant of Africa is abundantly blessed with a massive agricultural system with a land fertility that is considered as one of the best in the world. According to statistical reports, Nigeria possesses an arable land of 34 million hectares of meadows and pastures which results to its account of 23 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nigeria leads many types of agricultural production which includes palm oil, pineapple, cocoa beans and sorghum. The country is ranked the second largest producer of sorghum in the world after the United States.
Production of Palm oil and Cocoa beans in the country has earned it the fifth position in this kind of agricultural production around the world. In the agricultural sector, Nigeria is likewise regarded as a large global exporter; among its ten best-performing export categories are oil, nuts, seeds and fruits. Due to these agricultural feats, facilitation of proper administration becomes essential. This introduces the concept of agricultural law and its impacts on the Nigerian agricultural industry.
The agricultural sector is sustained by agricultural laws.
According to Dennis Rapong’o, “agricultural law deals with legal matters concerning the agricultural sector such as agricultural infrastructure, seed, water, fertilizers, pesticides agricultural finance, agricultural insurance, farming rights and tenure systems and the legal regulations used in Agro-processing and rural industries.” Similarly, North Dakota University defined agricultural law as “the application of fundamental legal concepts (such as property law and contract law) to issues arising in agriculture, and legal concepts that are unique to agriculture (such as food safety regulations or soil conservation programs).”
Agricultural law enables sustainability of the agricultural sector in many ways, one of which is land acquisition. There is a need for a land to conduct agricultural practices, regardless of the kind of farming. The regulation of land acquisition in Nigeria is done by the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978. Abolishment of the existing land tenure systems and approval of a uniform administration of land tenure system are entrenched in the provisions of this Act. This Act gives farmers an opportunity to own a land or lease landed properties.
Agro-financing improves social welfare of the industry.
Another essence of the law in the agricultural sector is the right to quality Agro-inputs. The law of contract, Sales of Goods Law and other similar laws are responsible for protection of purchasing farmers who are into purchase of seeds, when they are defrauded by the selling party. These laws grant farmers the liberty to enjoy quality Agro-inputs. When there is consistency in the purchase of a purchasing farmer, there is a significant need for a sales contract to enable regulation of the transactions.
An undeniable significance of the law in the industry is Agro-financing which is also referred to as Agriculture financing. This kind of financing refers to public or private resources — which could be in the form of gift, equity or loan — for improvement of social welfare by developing the agricultural industry. Agro-financing comprises of funds by the government and non-governmental organizations which employ matching grants for promotion of community and sector development, local empowerment and income equality.
There is a need for sensitization programs for farmers.
Although agricultural laws play a huge role in the sector, there are challenges that hinder proper implementation of these laws. One of such is persistent regulatory review which makes it difficult for the industry to sustain implementation. Another challenge is poor sensitization. Most farmers have little or no known access to the required knowledge that guides agricultural practices. Other challenges include lack of labor infrastructure, poverty, transnational border transactions and poor transportation medium. It is therefore essential that sensitization programs are conducted and legislations are made specific to address challenges.
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Nigeria, world’s 2nd largest sorghum producer – Agriculture contributes twenty-three percent to the GDP of Nigeria. – Express your point of view.
We can do more in the production of the sorghum. It will help us to be able to export to other countries. It will also help to generate revenue to the government.
Agriculture in Nigeria is not yet to standard due to bad government who has refuse support the agricultural sector . They only focus more on oil
Our government need to improve and support agriculture well so it can be manage well and produce positive result for us we should put more effort in producing sorghum so we can generate more from it
We will generate a lot and more revenue from sorghum production it already contribute much to our GDP if we do more to it, it will contribute more better to our GDP
Seeing agriculture contributing significantly to the country’s GDP alone makes me happy. Our agricultural thriving time is coming back
Additional government support is need in this sector. I can say it’s worthy of more investment and should yield very well.
It’s strange despite how the agricultural sector turned to be of the sector that generate revenue to the gov’t. They are still not supportive. I’m out of patience with the gov’t. I hope the incoming president sees why it is important to focus on agricultural sector likewise other sectors too anyway.
If they are to enact a proper agricultural law it should be a favorable one to the farmers and they must be much aware about it.
We have room to increase our sorghum output. We can then benefit from exporting to other countries. Also, it will help in the generating increase revenue.
Our land has really helped us in the agriculture sector because we use it to go cocoa and so many other farm produce, at least we can thank God for that.
We have one of the best agricultural systems in the world, with vast amounts of fertile land, but we aren’t using it to its full potential.
This is a big feat for us. The government needs to invest and encourage more farmers out there to keep the flag flying.
For agriculture to be managed well and yield benefits for us, our government must enhance and support it. We should work more to grow sorghum so that we can profit more from it.
It is unfortunate that agricultural rules play such a significant part in the industry, as there are many obstacles that prevent the laws from being properly implemented.
More work needs to go into sorghum production, and the government needs to help with that so that it can be managed and yield good results.
The government needs to invest in agriculture more, so farms can be run efficiently and profitably. If we want to increase our income, we should prioritise sorghum production.
Nigeria is endowed with so many opportunities for wealth and riches. Nigeria is the 2nd largest sorghum producer in the world and are doing well in areas of the Agricultural sector. All Nigeria needs now is good governance
Given the fact that Nigeria is blessed with a good and productive land, we can become the world largest sorghum producer in proper investment were done by our government in this sector. It will increase in our revenue and contribute to the country GDP.