Answers to Agricultural Policy &
Development Questions
SECTION A
QUESTION ONE
(a) Why are the youth in Nigeria not interested in farming?
- Lack of access to land
- Poor perception of farming as a poor man’s job
- Inadequate access to finance/credit
- Use of outdated tools and methods
- Lack of support infrastructure (storage, transport, etc.)
- Unstable market prices and low returns
- Insecurity in rural areas
- Inadequate policy support
- Lack of education on modern farming techniques
- Influence of urban migration and white-collar job preference
(b) What are the policies put in place to attract youth to farming?
- Youth Empowerment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP)
- N-Power Agro by the Federal Government
- Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme
- National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)
- Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme
- Presidential Fertilizer Initiative
- Anchor Borrowers’ Programme
- Green Imperative Programme
- Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL)
- Access to land and mechanization support through government programs
QUESTION TWO
(a) Highlight the various farming methods you know.
- Mixed farming
- Crop rotation
- Monocropping
- Organic farming
- Subsistence farming
- Commercial farming
- Slash and burn
- Hydroponics
- Aquaponics
- Irrigated farming
(b) What are the agricultural policies and programmes that have been put in place by
Nigerian government?
- Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA)
- National Policy on Agriculture
- Operation Feed the Nation (OFN)
- Green Revolution Programme
- FADAMA Programme
- Presidential Fertilizer Initiative
- Anchor Borrowers’ Programme
- National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS)
- NIRSAL
- Nigeria Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEA)
(c) What are the reasons for failure of the programmes and policies?
- Corruption and mismanagement
- Poor implementation
- Lack of continuity after government change
- Inadequate funding
- Insecurity in farming areas
- Lack of infrastructure
- Bureaucracy
- Poor stakeholder engagement
- Lack of monitoring and evaluation
- Low technological adoption
QUESTION THREE
(a) Define the following terms:
i. Policy – A deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve outcomes.
ii. Planning – The process of setting goals, developing strategies, and outlining tasks to
achieve objectives.
iii. Agricultural policy – A set of laws and regulations related to domestic agriculture and
imports of foreign products.
iv. Technology – Application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in
industry and farming.
(b) List the steps involved in policy-making process.
- Problem identification
- Agenda setting
- Policy formulation
- Policy adoption
- Policy implementation
- Monitoring and evaluation
SECTION B
QUESTION FOUR
(a) What are public goods referred to as "non-excludable goods"?
- Yes, public goods are non-excludable, meaning individuals cannot be excluded from their
use. Examples: street lighting, national defense.
(b) Differentiate between fabrication and manufacturing.
- Fabrication: Constructing products by cutting, bending, and assembling components,
usually metal.
- Manufacturing: Production of goods using labor, machines, and tools on a large scale, often
including fabrication.
(c) What are free goods?
- Goods that are abundant and do not have an opportunity cost. Examples: air, sunlight.
(d) Name and define one of the features of fabrication material.
- Ductility – The ability of a material to deform under tensile stress; it is often characterized
by the material's ability to be stretched into a wire.
QUESTION FIVE
(a) What is land tenure?
- The system or rules that define how land is owned, used, and transferred.
(b) Briefly describe the land tenure system in Nigeria.
- Includes communal, freehold, leasehold, and statutory rights of occupancy.
- Often governed by customs or the Land Use Act of 1978, with land vested in the
government.
(c) Explain three (3) reasons why land tenure is important in Nigeria.
- Ensures legal ownership and security
- Encourages investment in land improvement
- Helps in planning and development of land use
- Affects access to credit (as collateral)
- Influences agricultural productivity
QUESTION SIX
(a) What is the goal of irrigation policy?
- To ensure sustainable water use for agricultural productivity and food security.
(b) Who are the beneficiaries of irrigation policy?
- Farmers, agro-based industries, rural communities, government, and the general public.
(c) What are the objectives of irrigation policy?
- Improve water management
- Increase agricultural yield
- Promote food security
- Encourage year-round farming
- Develop rural areas
- Create employment opportunities
(d) Explain the objectives of irrigation policy and explain the strategic action adopted
to achieve one of them.
Objective: Improve water management
Strategic Action:
- Development of irrigation infrastructure such as dams and canals
- Training farmers on efficient water use
- Promoting drip and sprinkler systems
- Water user associations to manage local systems
