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The recently launched National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) has revealed that there are about 40.2 million agricultural households in Nigeria.
This revelation has finally rested the controversy that has long surrounded agriculture data.
Launching the report in Abuja, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also disclosed that out of the 91 per cent that cultivated crops, 35 per cent practised only crop cultivation while 48 per cent were reported raising any type of livestock.
Furthermore, 16 percent of the households raised 58 million cattle, 41.2 percent reared about 124 million goats; 42.5 percent, poultry– most commonly chickens – while only 5 percent practiced fisheries.
“In addition, the least percentage of agricultural households into crop cultivation was recorded in Lagos State (48.0 per cent), while Ebonyi State had the highest with 99.5 per cent. The highest per centage of agricultural households engaged in livestock production was reported in Jigawa State with 84.2 per cent; followed by Bauchi State with 79.7 per cent. For poultry, the highest per centage of agricultural households was recorded in Benue State with 65.2 per cent; closely followed by Ebonyi State with 63.3 per cent” NBS said.
In his remarks, the Statistician General of the federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran said that the nation has suffered for lack of data on the agriculture sector for decades and this had hampered its progress in the sector. It has also prohibited investors in the sector.
“For over two and a half decades, the absence of comprehensive data on Nigeria’s agricultural sector has been a significant barrier to progress. This gap has limited the ability of policymakers, investors, and stakeholders to make more informed decisions that are critical to the sector’s growth, and overall food security in Nigeria. However, the conduct of the 2022 NASC exercise, the first of its kind in over 27 years, marks a turning point.
“With over 65 per cent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on the agriculture sector for their daily sustenance, the NASC results offer invaluable insights into the very foundation of our agricultural sector, providing a detailed picture of the size and structure of farm holdings.
“We will better understand the distribution of land ownership and operational structures across various farm types.
“The launch of the NASC results is particularly timely given the current global and national focus on food security, as well as the government’s drive towards enhancing sustainable local production to cater for our youthful and growing population.
“The data gleaned from this census is more critical than ever.”
Viewing it from a statistical standpoint, the results provide major inputs into the ongoing rebasing of national accounts, or the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as we generally know it. It will further empower us to develop evidence-based solutions for pressing challenges. By understanding the current state of agriculture, we can design targeted policies and programmes to address issues related to food security, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and enhance overall productivity.
“It will also assist in attracting the much-needed private sector investment into the agricultural landscape. The data will equip investors with the confidence and knowledge required to make informed decisions regarding agricultural ventures in Nigeria,” he said.