AGRICULTURE
IN THE PRECOLONIAL ERA OF NIGERIA: FORMS, IMPORTANCE, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTION TO
THE MODERN DAYS
INTRODUCTION
It has been viewed by some Eurocentric
writers that pre-colonial West African economy was stagnant, subsistence and
that it lacked real market status before British colonization. This argument
stems from some anthropological perceptions (substantivist stand point) that
the main sector of this economy was basically subsistence agriculture, which
had been made stagnant as a result of application of simple technology without
organized specialization. Production target is said to ensure human existence
with little or no exchange as a result of limited output. To this view, simple
and non-industrial region, such as pre-colonial West African societies lacked
certain necessary prerequisite for market economy and as such economic terms
and theories should not be applied to explain their economic structure.
Given
this background, it would be gainful to examine the structure and scope of
pre-colonial Nigerian economy. The main spring and life-wire of any society are
mostly referred to as its economic and human potentials. Nigeria does not take
exception to this universal rule. The kingdoms, states and empires that existed
in pre-colonial Nigeria were great and prosperous not only because of their
sound socio-political institutions, but also as a result of the natural
resources such as bountiful agriculture, trade and crafts. A close observation
of the Nigerian terrain and climate reveals the diversity of its natural
potentials which gave rise to economic viability and a variety of occupations.
The structure of pre-colonial Nigerian economy rested basically and extensively
on the nature of vegetation, household labour and the main components being
agricultural activities, crafts, trade, and its transportation system.
HISTORY
OF AGRICULTURE IN PRE-COLONIAL ERA OF NIGERIA
Agriculture is a primordial economic
activity in Nigeria which formed the means of livelihood of the peoples and a
strong factor for the rise of states and empires just as the case everywhere in
the world. From the words of Evans – Pritchards "the first evolution that
transformed human economy gave man control over his own food supply, man began
to plant, cultivate and improve by selection of edible grasses, roots, and
trees". This economic advancement has been described as "neolitic
revolution". Like in modern time, in pre-colonial Nigeria , a major
determining factor for the choice of settlement was availability of favourable
climate, free of epidemics, fertile land suitable for cultivation and grazing,
congenial littoral environment for fishing and security such as absence of war
and other natural and supernatural disasters. When these factors were lacking,
people resorted to migration in search of comfortably habitable areas.
Considering these phenomena, the reasons for shifting cultivation in planting
in agriculture, normadism in grazing and itinerancy in fishing could be
understood. In other words, ecological factors play decisive roles in human
settlement7.
The form of agriculture practised and
the crops planted were determined by the nature of soil and the terrain of the
region. Shifting cultivation and crop rotation characterized agricultural
practices in pre-colonial Nigeria , owing primarily to land tenure practice and
lack of knowledge of highly mechanized farming. There were natural problems
such as erosion, drought, pests and diseases. These problems were tackled
locally, depending on individual communities. For instance, traps were set to
catch birds and destructive animals in the farms and gutters were also dug to
drain away water in order to check flood. Wetting of farms during drought had
been an ancient agricultural practice among Nigerians. All these practices were
not necessarily influenced by conservation as viewed by some western observers
but the most effective and correct maintenance of soil fertility and assessment
of the prevailing economic situation of the period
In
pre-colonial Nigeria , farmers depended on implements such as digging stick,
hoe, cutlass and sickles. The common crops produced based on territorial
specialization included, yam, okra, vegetables, maize, cocoyam, cassava,
plantains, bananas, kolanuts and oil palm9. The independent growth and
antiquity of agriculture in Africa and Nigeria in particular has been strongly
proved by some African economic historians. Among them was Murdock, an
ethnographer who argued that agriculture began in the upper Niger area among
the Mende-speaking peoples in about 5000BC10 basing his research on yam
cultivation in this region. While one cannot doubt the great antiquity of
agriculture in Nigeria , we must, on the same note not rule out the possibility
of cultivation of yams or other crops earlier than or around the period,
(5000BC), in other parts of Nigeria . It is interesting to note that the
diffusionist theory and hamitic hypothesis which tend to hold that all
developments in Africa are imported have been proved wrong by the nature of
agricultural development in the sub-regions11. While it is undeniable that some
crops were introduced from other areas to Nigeria , it is evident that
agriculture in Nigeria developed naturally and independently without foreign
mechanism12. Whatever that was later introduced to it was supplementary to the
existing system.
TYPES
OF PRE-COLOCIAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA
FISHING,
HUNTING AND PASTORALISM
Fishing
Fishing is an ancient economic activity
in Nigeria . Its activities cover both the coastal and inland waterways and it
was of tremendous economic value to the pre-colonial Nigerians. Fish was one of
the major articles among Nigerian commodities of trade. Fish of various kinds
were either dried in the sun or smoked in order to preserve them for long or
short distance market. Fresh fish were said to be marketed mostly in short
distance areas owing to the perishable nature and problem of storage facility.
Professional fishing is characterized by craftsmanship and special skills, such
as boat, canoe, paddle, float, buoy and net construction coupled with invention
of a variety of indigenous fishing techniques and gear. Fishing in pre-colonial
Nigeria till date engenders migration as many of its practitioners would have
to leave their original settlements for better prospects elsewhere15. Fishing
of the migratory type was very prominent among the Ilaje, Izon, Itsekiri, Efik,
Jukun, Ijebu, Awori etc. From the pre-colonial period to date, the Ilaje are
said to have been the most migratory, famous and professional both in inland
and deep sea- fishing not only in Nigeria but in West and Central Africa16 .
Around the early 16th century, fishing is said to be practised with rudimentary
techniques and tools such as raffia materials, wood, and grasses ad with very
limited scope17. By the late 18th century to early 19th century, most Nigerian
fishermen had started developing improved fishing gear and techniques such as
clapnets, castnets, ita, egho, asuren, ojijon, agada, ighee, iyanma, ekobi ufo,
riro, 18 etc. Nigerian fishing economy was in this progressive stage of
development on the eve of British colonization.
Hunting
Hunting could be regarded as one of the
earliest economic activities in pre-colonial Nigeria . It was very significant
because, many people depended on it for economic survival at a stage of
economic development. However, as time went on, hunting became a relevant
supplement to agriculture19. Hunting in Nigeria during this period was of
various levels. At lower level, hunting included setting of snares for birds,
young animals, such as squirrels, monkeys, grass cutters, alligators, etc.
Another level was hunting for larger animals such as crocodile, elephant, wild
pig, antelope, etc. It was and perhaps, still, a belief in most local
communities in Nigeria that hunting, especially at higher level, apart from
special skills involves the use of charms and possession of supernatural
powers20.
Hunting was a reliable source of meat and animals skin for cloth,
shoe and drum making. In addition to its economic value, it was a means by
which foot paths and settlements were created before the advent of the European
mode of road construction and town settlement. Consequently, these paths and
hamlets later developed into roads, towns and villages. Hunters served as
security agents by protecting people from attack of enemies or wild animals.
Hunters also supplied animals and their special parts which have medicinal
value among indigenous medicine practitioners21. Supplementary to hunting was
fruit gathering. Collection of variety of fruits from the forest was an
economic venture by some people, especially women in the pre-colonial Nigerian
societies. Fruits and spices are important for food and herbal medicine hence,
their demand was and is still high till date in Nigerian local market places22.
PASTORALISM
This was another economic practice in
pre-colonial Nigeria . This is the rearing of animals, especially cattle, goats
and sheep in commercial quantity by moving from one fertile land to another. As
a result of infestation of the forest region by tsetse fly and scarcity of open
land in the south, couple with the marshy nature of the plains, presence of
rivers and creeks in the coastal region and the presence of open land in the
north, pastoralism was mostly practised by the Fulani in the savanna region of
northern Nigeria22. Both pastoralism and hunting are related to crop farming
since they all directly and indirectly deal with animals. Though, mixed farming
was not widespread, some form of symbiosis existed between the crop farmers and
the postoralists. For instance, the droppings of the cattle formed manure to
the soil which in turn supported the growth of crops while the postoralists
depended on food crops of the farmers. Moreover, the production of cattle was a
source of beef for the forest dwellers, the leather workers demanded the skin
for production of shoes, bags, shield for war, quivers for arrow, harness for
horses23 etc. Kano in northern Nigeria was famous for such skills. Pastoral
activities were of immense economic value in pre-colonial Nigeria .
CRAFTS
A discussion of the development of
crafts among pre-colonial Nigerians requires a description of their arts and
industries at various levels. The major arts and craft works in which Nigerians
were famous included; salt extraction, soap production, metal work, woodwork
and weaving activities. This enormous development reminds us of the extent to
which indigenous technology had progressed in Nigeria in pre-colonial period.
It is evident that iron technology had developed considerably in pre-colonial
Nigeria and this revolutionalized crafts and manufactures in Nigeria and indeed
Africa Salt production was one of the mineral extractions, which was not available
in most areas, but an important locally needed product and an import commodity
of foreign merchants25. In pre-colonial Nigeria , production of salt at large
quantity was naturally restricted to the coastal areas owing to the
availability of raw material such as salt water. The method of production was
by evaporation of seawater either by boiling or sunning. Among the coastal
settlers in Nigeria, especially the Ilaje, Itsekiri and Ijaw, the process was
by collecting seawater in a large clay pot, cooked it till it was dry, leaving
white and solid substance at the bottom. This would be scooped, using a small
basket to filter the dirt26. What remained was salt which could be to a large
extent free of impurities. This industrial activity enhanced the growth of
trade between the coastal and inland dwellers in pre-colonial Nigeria . In the
inland region too, salt is said to be produced in perhaps relatively small
quantity especially among the Jukun of the Benue region and the Igbo of the
eastern Nigeria.
DEVELOPMENTAL
ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA
Agriculture, for decades, had been
associated with the production of basic food crops. Agriculture and farming
were synonymous so long as farming was not commercialized. But as the process
of economic development accelerated, many more other occupations allied to
farming came to be recognized as a part of agriculture.
At present, agriculture besides farming includes
forestry, fruit cultivation, dairy, poultry, mushroom, bee keeping, arbitrary,
etc. Today, marketing, processing, distribution of agricultural products etc.
are all accepted as a part of modern agriculture.
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the life
of an economy. It is the backbone of our economic system. Agriculture not only
provides food and raw material but also employment opportunities to a very
large proportion of population. The following facts clearly highlight the
importance of agriculture in this country.
1. Source of Livelihood:
In India the main occupation of our working population is
agriculture. About 70 per cent of our population is directly engaged in
agriculture. In advanced countries, this ratio is very small being 5 per cent
in U.K., 4 per cent in USA., 16 per cent in Australia, 14 per cent in France,
21 per cent in Japan and 32 per cent in USSR.
This high proportion in agriculture is due to the fact
that the non-agricultural activities have not been developed to absorb the
rapidly growing population.
2. Contribution to National
Income:
Agriculture is the premier source of our national income.
According to National Income Committee and C.S.O., in 1960-61, 52 per cent of
national income was contributed by agriculture and allied occupations. In
1976-77, this sector alone contributed 42.2 per cent while in 1981-82, its contribution
was to the tune of 41.8 per cent.
In 2001-02, it contributed around 32.4 per cent of
national income. This was further reduced to 28 per cent in 1999-2000. Contrary
to this, the proportion of agriculture in U.K. is only 3.1, in USA it is 3 percent,
2.5 per cent in Canada, 6 per cent in Japan, 7.6 per cent in Australia.
The mere conclusion of all this is that more developed a
country the smaller is the contribution of agriculture in national output.
3. Supply of Food and Fodder:
Agriculture sector also provides fodder for livestock
(35.33 crores). Cow and buffalo provide protective food in the form of milk and
they also provide draught power for farm operations. Moreover, it also meets
the food requirements of the people. Import of food grains has been very small
in recent years, rather export avenues are being looked for.
4. Importance in International
Trade:
It is the agricultural sector that feeds country's trade.
Agricultural products like tea, sugar, rice, tobacco, spices etc. constitute
the main items of exports of India. If the development process of agriculture
is smooth, export increases and imports are reduced considerably.
Thus, it helps to reduce the adverse balance of payments
and save our foreign exchange. This amount can be well utilized to import other
necessary inputs, raw-material, machinery and other infra-structure which is
otherwise useful for the promotion of economic development of the country.
5. Source of Raw Material:
Agriculture has been the source of raw
materials to the leading industries like cotton and jute textiles, sugar,
tobacco, edible and non-edible oils etc. All these depend directly on
agriculture.
Apart from this, many others like processing of fruits
and vegetables, dal milling, rice husking, gur making also depend on
agriculture for their raw material. According to United Nations Survey, the
industries with raw material of agricultural origin accounted for 50 per cent
of the value added and 64 per cent of all jobs in the industrial sector.
7. Importance in Transport:
Agriculture is the main support for railways and roadways
which transport bulk of agricultural produce from farm to the mandies and factories.
Internal trade is mostly in agricultural products. Besides, the finance of the
govt, also, to the large extent, depends upon the prosperity of agricultural
sector.
8. Vast Employment
Opportunities:
The agricultural sector is significant as it provides
greater employment opportunities in the construction of irrigation projects,
drainage system and other such activities.
With the fast growing population and high incidence of
unemployment and disguised unemployment in backward countries, it is only
agriculture sector which provides more employment chances to the labour force.
In this way, significance of agriculture emerges more and more.
PROBLEM OF
AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA AND THEIR SOLUTION
Nigeria is a country
where food should be in abundance. Our soil and climate support the growth of
many food and cash crops. However agriculture is not as good as it used to be
in times past and contribution of the agricultural sector to the Nigerian
economy is low. This is due to a number of reasons. Belows are the Top 10
problems of Agriculture in Nigeria and Solutions .
1. POVERTY
This is the leading
cause of problems in agriculture in Nigeria. Insufficient funds for farmers to
get large expanse of land, to practice mechanised farming and the likes
consequently reduce the practice of agriculture and food production.
2. IGNORANCE
The average Nigerian
youth has little or no interest in agriculture. They have no idea commercial
agriculture is very profitable and interesting. Most have the mentality that
farmers are poor and not respected in the society.
3. ILLITERACY
Some farmers that are
truly dedicated to the profession do not know how to read and write. They are
not up to date with modern practices and innovation in farming. This impedes
optimal practice of agriculture.
4. BAD ROAD NETWORK
There is no good road
network where agricultural produce can be transported from the farms to Areas
where they are needed.
5. POOR POWER SUPPLY
The epileptic power
supply situation in the country affects the practice of agriculture. Perishable
goods such as tomato, fish and the likes are not properly stored because there
is little or no electricity to power cooling systems such as refrigerators, cold
rooms and the likes.
6. Lack Of Modern Farm Machines
There is inadequate
farm machines to carry out mechanised farming and thus increase production.
7. Disorganization & Unaccountability
Most farmers do not
know how to keep farm records and to keep track of their activities on the
farm. They cannot give proper account of their finances. This nonchalant
attitude towards organization greatly affects the progress of agriculture.
SOLUTIONS TO
PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA
1. Agricultural Policies In Nigeria
There is a huge need
for an upgrade of the current agricultural policies in Nigeria in order to
improve the role of agriculture in Nigerian economic development
2. LOANS
Loans should be given
to farmers to expand their land and procure machines that will aid large scale
farming.
3. SENSITIZATION
Farmers and the
general public should be sensitized on the importance of agriculture to
national development. Youths should be made to understand that agriculture is
really profitable. Farmers should also be sensitized on how to keep proper farm
records and also how to be accountable
4. EDUCATION
Illiterate farmers
should be educated on how to read and write
5. FACILITATION OF MECHANISED FARMING
Farm machines should
be made readily available to aid mechanised farming.
6. PROPER ROAD NETWORK
Roads that would
easily connect the market to the farms should be repaired and made better. This
would further encourage agricultural production.
CONCLUSION
Given the general features and myriads
of sub-sectoral components of pre-colonial Nigerian economy, it is convincing
that the economy was progressive in growth and responsive to innovation before
colonization by Britain in the late 19th century.
The study has shown that,
pre-colonial Nigerian economy was a traditional African economic system in
which production depended largely on families, communal efforts and
professional groups or guilds. It should be noted that this traditional
economic system, which can be referred to as "communalism" was
intrinsically practised similarly in different autonomous regions of the
geographical expression later known as Nigeria .
As a scientific analysis which relates
to value-free nature of enquiry, the positivist stand-point reinforces the
claim that, pre-colonial Nigerian economy was dynamic and market-oriented. It
is the position of this economic philosophy that, the fundamental economic
problem in any society, irrespective of place and point in history, is to
provide a set of rules for channeling competition and resolving conflict among
individuals who cannot satisfy all their wants given the constraints of
scarcity. It has been argued by Roger Leroy for instance, that the aim of
production throughout ages in the world remains the same and that human
behaviours towards economic issues are universally similar56.
All these fundamental economic rules are
said to be embedded in a framework of formal societal institutions such as laws
and customs. The specific function of every economic system in any society
would be, to take care of production, distribution and consumption of goods and
services in order to create utility57. Pre-colonial Nigerian economy would not
therefore, be an exception to these universal rules and principles. This study
has in the light of these features demonstrated that pre-colonial Nigerian
economy was dynamic, progressive and market-oriented.
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