CREATING JOBS AND FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA THROUGH AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

Abstract

The paper examined the imperative of creating jobs and engendering food security through agrarian revolution in Nigeria. In the 1940s and early 1950s, Nigeria did not have any problem feeding herself and exporting the surplus food items she produced. This transcended through 1960s to early 1970s, then agriculture was the mainstay of the nation’s economy providing a means of livelihood for over 70% of the populace and also contributing significantly to the nation’s Gross domestic product GDP. However, today, larger part of Nigerian agriculture remains rudimentary and backward. Negligence of the sector, lower productivity, government lukewarm attitude towards the sector, lack of technology, system of land ownership were identified as the major factors hindering the sector’s growth. Based on these, suggestions were made, which include the need to radically transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector thereby creating jobs to the majority of the populace and make the nation self-sufficient in food production; and put an end to food insecurity and malnutrition.