Poverty reduction and agricultural development in Nigeria: Lessons from China’s agricultural policies

Abstract

This study examines several agricultural policies and programmes that were initiated in Nigeria especially under President Buhari’s administration and in China aimed at enhancing poverty reduction. Through this, achievements as well as problems that hindered realization of the dreams of the policies and programmes were known. Presently, Nigeria has about 80 per cent of arable land but regrettably less than 40 per cent of it cultivated despite the country’s teeming population and level of unemployment. Comparatively, before 1949, China’s economy was no different from that of any developing country but its remarkable achievement in improving food security and livelihood has drawn serious attention from international community especially from developing countries. Its greatest achievement is the fact that with 10 per cent of global farmland and one-fourth of global average for water resources per capita, it successfully fed its huge population of over one-fifth of global population. Also, its agricultural development has contributed to poverty reduction. Therefore, in order to learn from the Chinese experience in agricultural development, Nigeria should carefully identify and make adjustments in adapting to local and national
situations just as China has done. Conclusively, Nigeria needs to make its own agricultural plans based on its uniqueness and continue to develop the human and fiscal resources to implement them, requiring a strong state commitment and effective small-scale farmer’s lobby.