THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION COST VARIATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The quest to achieve self-sufficient food production is one of the highest priorities of most countries in the world today, Nigeria inclusive. This challenge also called food security is a major problem in developing economies such as Nigeria. In Nigeria food security is critically dependent upon effective transportation system. This means that a wide variety of Nigerian food would not be available without the complex transportation network system. It is therefore obvious that transportation is the live wire of economic development of every nation. Based on the above reason, the importance of road transport system cannot be over emphasized especially with regard to agricultural products. However, problems relating to rural inaccessibility have continued to hamper food availability in Nigeria. Agriculture which is one of the major sectors of every economy has been accorded so much importance by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Accordingly, successive administrations have introduced a number of incentives to encourage the transportation of agricultural products from areas of production to areas of intense demand. In Edo State, for example, the state government embarked on massive opening of feeder roads to link the state capital, Benin city to encourage easy transportation of agricultural products from the rural areas to the city. Similarly, the state government also operates her own transport company that helps greatly in moving goods and persons from the rural areas to the urban center.
Agricultural products encompass all categories of products related to agriculture. They range from raw and finished goods under the classifications of plants, animals and other life forms. Agricultural products can, therefore be referred to as crops and animals grown under cultivated conditions whether used for personal consumption, subsistence or sold for commercial benefits (Calestous, 2011).Agricultural products come in the form of fruits and vegetables, grains or cereals, livestock, natural fibres, forest and marine products (Adirika, 2001). Some agricultural products produced in Enugu state include: sugarcane, rice, groundnuts, beans, oil palms, cocoa, coffee, cattle, millet, maize, guinea corn, cotton, tomatoes, cowpea ,cocoyam, sweet potatoes, tea, timber, banana, yam, beniseed, coconut, cassava, citrus fruits, oranges, guavas, sheep, goats, pigs, apples, and grapes (Enugu State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, 2012).Being agrarian in nature, the predominant population of Enugu state is engaged in farming as an occupation.
