Entrepreneurship: A Vehicle for Sustainable Food Production in Nigeria

Abstract

Agriculture has been with mankind since the creation of the entire world and is as old as man himself. The developed countries have made great improvements in its practices, whereby few farmers conveniently feed their nations unlike in Nigeria where commercial farming is still at its infancy. One of the goals of the millennium development goals (MDGs) is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger using agricultural machinery and rural transformation. Adequate and sustainable food will enhance better income through commercialisation of agriculture and agricultural entrepreneurship. Agricultural enterprise accommodates over 70% of labour in Nigeria, contributing to GDP after petroleum. The ecological diversity, teeming population and production potential of various agro–ecologies offer the best platform for entrepreneurship in agriculture for sustainable food production and agro- raw materials. This paper focuses on harnessing agricultural potential of Nigeria for sustainable food production and food security for economic well-being of an average Nigerian. The methodology adopted in this paper which is a review include: the narrative – textual case study (NTCS), a social science research methods that relies on, and sources the needed information from empirical data of relevant authors. Our findings among others include list of different agricultural entrepreneurship that can bring good income, attitude require for desirable result and rural transformation needed that can promote agricultural enterprises in Nigeria.  The paper posits that when an agricultural practice in Nigeria is approached from entrepreneurial angle, it would help solve the problems of unemployment, food scarcity and malnutrition, and poverty among the rural dwellers in Nigeria. This will consequently increase per capita income, and standard of living of people in Nigeria and her sub-region.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Vehicle, Sustainable, Food Production