Analysis of Agricultural Programmes and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, 1960-2012

Abstract

The paper examined various agricultural policies and programmes that had been implemented by successive Nigerian governments and its impact on poverty reduction/alleviation. Scholarly literature have identified among other things, poor policy formulation, policy inconsistency and inadequate implementation as reasons why agricultural policies and programmes have failed to eradicate poverty. However, what has not been given satisfactory attention is the non-inclusion of the relevant people in decision-making concerning programmes that impact on their existence. The problematic of the paper was to determine why various Nigerian governments have not expanded the political space to involve the people in decision-making regarding poverty alleviation. The paper adopted the qualitative method of data collection together with descriptive qualitative method for our data analysis. The basic propositions arising from the Rentier State was appropriated as our theoretical framework of analysis. The paper concluded that because successive Nigerian governments depend essentially on oil rent for its revenue and not on taxes, it reduces the value it attaches to its citizens and therefore do not involve them in decision making. The paper recommends a multi-sectoral and multi-faceted approach to poverty alleviation as a short-term solution; and the widening of the political space to include the people in decision making that concerns them as a more lasting solution to poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

Keywords: Agricultural Programmes, Poverty Alleviation, Rentier State, Nigerian Government