A HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, 1987 – 2000
ABSTRACT
This study has examined the history of Kaduna State Agricultural Development Project (KADP) in Kaduna State. The study found out that the activities of KADP have impact on lives of the Kaduna State indigenous farmers who were known to be traditional farmers. They heavily relied on subsistence farming for a couple of centuries. However, the emergence of the KADP in 1987 brought more agricultural changes in their lives as it introduced new agricultural programmes that improved the harvest yields in the area. More interestingly by the year 2000, the KADP programmes have improved the standard of living as well as general socio-economic activities of the agrarian communities in Kaduna State.However, this development was mainly achieved due to the involvement of other agricultural-based governmental and non-governmental organisations like The Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Zaria, Institute of Agricultural Research and West African Agricultural Productivity Programme among others.
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL BACKROUND
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Without any doubt, agriculture is one of the necessities for the growth and development of any particular country. This is because agriculture has some links with other sectors like the industrial sector and also peoples economic growth and development. However, agriculture involves the cultivation of land, raising and rearing of animals for the purpose of food for man, feed for animals and raw materials for industries. Agriculture involves cropping, livestock, forestry and fishing, processing and marketing of these agricultural products. Broadly, agriculture can be classified as crop production, livestock, forestry and fishing. Thus, the importance of agriculture in society goes beyond it being a source of food and raw materials for industries to provision of job opportunities and a source of foreign exchange. However, agricultural extension was ascribed by the colonial government as one of the important activities for economic take off in Nigeria.
Agriculture is the mostly widespread activity, it serves as a means of livelihood for more than quarter of mankind, raw material for factories, which human beings depend upon and for feeding the agro allied industries. The surplus is sold to purchase other necessities of life such as clothes, can food, electric cookers, stoves, refrigerator, cables, satellite, television sets and radio sets among others. Many industries will shut down without agriculture. Despite the work of science and technology, the world is a dead place without food.
