Agriculture

As Nigeria’s economy contracted in 2016, the country’s agriculture sector took on even more importance. Long touted as a remedy to the West African nation’s dependence on oil, agriculture is now seen as a potential economic saviour. Before hydrocarbons became the main source of economic growth and export revenue, agriculture dominated the local economy. A number of indicators have been stalled in a low-growth pattern for decades; however, they are now beginning to move in the right direction. Despite some challenges and a high food import bill, the agriculture sector continues to grow.

This chapter contains interviews with Audu Innocent Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture; Rahul Savara, Group Managing Director, TGI Group; and Bukar Tijani, Regional Representative for Africa, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.