Discovery of Hydrocarbon: Repositioning Agricultural Innovation System in a Sub- Saharan Country

摘要

Nigerian agricultural sector has suffered a relative decline since independence in 1960 due to oil discovery. The sector however, still accounts for about 33 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nigeria joined the leagues of oil producers in 1958 when its first oil field came on stream producing 5,100 barrel per day. Since then, petroleum has played an important role in the social and economic development of the Nigeria nation, as it accounted for more than 80 percent of her GDP. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa, the eleventh largest in the world and the eighth largest exporter of crude oil in the world. The effect of oil resource exploration and exploitation on the Nigerian economy especially on agriculture has been very obvious in terms of its negative effect on the production and exportation of food and agricultural products. Agriculture has failed to keep pace with Nigeria's rapid population growth as the country now relies on importation of food items. In order to address this effect, there is the need to reposition Nigeria agricultural innovation system (AIS). This paper therefore reviews the discovery of oil in Nigeria, its effects on the Nigeria agricultural sector, the need to reposition the AIS and; suggest policy directions for effective management of AIS in Nigeria.