The Impact of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) On Economic Development in Nigeria: 1985-2015 (Published)
IFAD intervention programmes are tailored towards the seeming problems of poverty through increased domestic savings and investments. There is no gainsaying the fact that the literature is complete on various policy mix that could usher in the much desired economic development especially in developing economies. Since the mid 80’s, IFAD has been involved directly in development programmes of LDCs, but to what extent have these programmes impacted on some of the major or key indicators of economic development such as literacy level, income generation, life expectancy, infant mortality amongst others, hence the need to examine the impact of IFAD programmes on these variables. The objectives of the study included to identify the key IFAD intervention programmes on incremental income, literacy rate, life expectancy and infant mortality. Secondary data were sourced and analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). The major findings of the study showed that the long-run determinants of economic development; measured by per capita income, are largely from IFAD funded project inputs in Nigeria (IFPN) and life expectancy in Nigeria (LERN). Literacy rate proxied by total enrolment in primary education regardless of age and expressed as a percentage of the population of official primary education age have negative coefficient and results in -0.382% change in economic development in the long run. Similarly, the coefficient of infant mortality rate in Nigeria measured by 1000 live births is indirectly related to economic development. It is against this background, that the study recommended increase funding of agricultural activities and rural savings mobilization, and by extension promotes development through increasing the volume and productivity of human capital as result improvement in life expectancy.
Keywords: Agricultural Development, Economic Development, International fund
Constraints to Agricultural Development in Nigeria (Published)
The role of agriculture in accelerating economic growth and development process of any nation cannot be overemphasized. However, in Nigeria, the sector has suffered severe neglect, due in part, from the windfall from the discovery of oil in the 1970s and other structural rigidities. The study investigated the constraints to agricultural development in Nigeria using time series data spanning the period 1970 – 2010 and contemporary econometric methods of unit root test, co-integration and error-correction mechanism. Empirical findings reveal that rainfall, exchange rate and food export (lag one) are the most significant positive determinants of agricultural output in Nigeria. However, food imports, diversion of funds meant for agricultural purposes and low technology diffusion in agriculture are among the factors identified as constraints to agricultural development in Nigeria. The study recommends among others, maintenance of stable and favourable exchange rate regime, and the pursuance of programmes that will bolster partnerships between research institutions and other stake holders in agriculture as a route to facilitating agricultural development and hence, economic development in Nigeria.
Keywords: Agricultural Constraints, Agricultural Development, Economic Development, Food Export