The Effects of Agriculture on Economic Development in Nigeria 1999-2022

Student: Ezinne Stephnie Charles-ewekechi (Project, 2025)
Department of Economics
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State


Abstract

ABSTRACT
In recent decades, the main and potential effects of Agriculture on Economic Growth has been a subject of much controversy, among development economists. The study examines the effects of agriculture on Nigeria's economic growth, using time series data between the periods of 1999-2022. Taking advantage of the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the research was carried out by means of secondary data and using the independent variables: Agricultural Outputs (AGOU), Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGS), Government Capital Expenditure on Agriculture (GCEA), Agricultural Land (AGLD), and Inflation Rates (INFR). The study aimed to reexamine the question of whether agriculture could serve as an engine of economic growth in Nigeria. The results obtained from the empirical analysis show that productivity in the agricultural sector has appreciably impacted positively on economic growth in Nigeria. The study recommends that the government should provide enabling environments for investors to invest in agriculture, as to increase agricultural sector output, while formulating policies to serve as incentives for assisting small-scale farmers to boost agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Keywords
impact health expenditure human capital development nigeria