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Role of Agriculture in Driving Economic Growth in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenge

Umaru Musa, Sanusi Abdulazeez Bala, Ukwe Tswabra Maigida, Salisu Haruna Dukku

Abstract

This study examined the Role of Agriculture in Driving Economic Growth in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges. The annual time series data was collected from world development indicator, covering 9 latest years span from 1990 to 2024 were used. The ex-post factor research design was used for this work. The study employed the econometric estimation technique Autoregressive Distribution Lag Model (ARDL) was used for the analysis, adopting annual data method of analysis. From the result estimated, all the explanatory variables were consistent with a priori expectation. This implies that a unit increase in Agriculture Merchandise Export (AME), Unemployment (UNEM) and Technology (TECH) lead to be decrease by approximately 0.047, 0.22 and 0.0006 and the first – two were statistically significant at five percent level of significant, ceteris paribus. On the other hand, Log of Exportation of goods and services (EGS), Inflation (INFL), Labour force (LBF), Livestock Production (LVSPP), Log of Manufacturing values added (MVA), which is 0.217, 0.0053, 0.137, 0.0068 and 0.507 respectively, all things being equal. Promote Value Addition in Agriculture: Government should enhance agricultural mechanization and agro-processing to improve the efficiency of agricultural merchandise exports and ensure that the sector contributes more significantly to GDP. Reduce Unemployment through Industrial Expansion: Policies should focus on job creation in the manufacturing and technology sectors to absorb excess labor and reduce the adverse impact of unemployment on growth.

References

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