THE ROLES OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

THE ROLES OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

1. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Some state government has undertaken major agricultural development projects. The aim is to increase farm yields and to produce better quality crops of food and fiber. The project aims at making available necessary inputs like improved seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, spraying equipment and farm machinery, good extension advice, adequate marketing facilities, a network of all weather roads and improved water supply at appropriate time.

2.  RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES (RBDA)

In June 1976, the federal government promulgated decree N025 titled "River Basin Development Authorities in the country.

THE FUNCTIONS OF RBDA ARE:

1.     To undertake comprehensive development of underground water resources for multipurpose use

2.     To undertake schemes for the control of floods and erosion and watershed management.

3.     To construct and maintain dams, dykes, polders, Wells, boreholes, irrigation and drainage system.

4.     To develop irrigations schemes for the production of crops and livestock

5.     To leave the irrigated land to farmers or recognized associations in the locality of the area concerned, it is hope that the farmers the river basin projects would signal the end of the tide of food supply fluctuations and ensure self-sufficiency in food.

NIGERIAN AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK (NACRDB)

The former Nigerian Agricultural Co-operation and Rural (NACB) now Nigerian Agricultural cooperative and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) was established in 1972 to enhance economic development by promoting agricultural production and rural development, and in improving the incomes and quality of the rural population.

The bank seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1.     Granting direct loans to individual farmers, cooperative societies in order to boost agricultural production in the country, provided that the bank is satisfied that the schemes for which the loans are required are viable and there is security to cover some percentage of such loans as the case may be.

2.     Granting loans to state or state institution for on-lending to any farmer, group of farmers, corporate bodes, subject to the states or state institutions guaranteeing repayment of the loan. The bank engages in all forms of agricultural projects, which include arable crops, tree crops horticulture, piggery, cattle, arbitrary, fishery and forestry.