THE BENEFITS THAT WILL BE DERIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT SHOWING INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is one of the means by which the government of any country that is serious about feeding its populace and raking in foreign exchange can use to improve the living standard of its people as well as generate revenue. Nigeria can improve her economy by showing interest in agriculture. Unfortunately, the government of Nigeria is yet to show serious commitment in the area of agriculture which would have been a major source of revenue.
Obviously. there is a lot to benefit, if the government can show interest in agriculture. First, the major benefit of agriculture to the people of the country is the availability of cheap and quality food for all. If the government develops interest in agriculture, there would be adequate production of food in large quantities. Then, there will be food for all and sundry thereby solving the problem of malnutrition and acute poverty. As a result of this step, many Nigerians would have enough food on their tables and they would be healthy as well.
Another benefit to be derived from the government showing interest in agriculture is that there will be huge amount of money generated as revenue from the sales of the agricultural produce within the country and even through exportation. Exportation of excess agricultural produce will bring huge foreign exchange earning into the country, which the government could use to provide infrastructural facilities in the country.
Furthermore, agricultural sector being the type that requires a large labour-force can also help to create employment for the large number of unemployed able-bodied men and women in the country. This can solve the problem of unemployment facing the country today. Since agriculture provides cheap food and employment, then the menace of crime in our society will be reduced to the barest minimum. When the government does everything necessary to boost agricultural production, there will be abundant food for people to eat, there will be employment and money will be in the pockets of the people to spend.
Agriculture can also help improve the other sectors of the Nigerian economy. The agro-allied industries will have enough raw materials to carry out their production processes. This will go a long way to developing the economy. Finally, the country's dependence on crude oil will be drastically reduced, if the government can show interest in agriculture. Crude oil will no longer become the major source of government income and the violence that is the order of the day in our oil producing areas from time to time will be drastically reduced.

Nnadozie Chukwuka
SS3C