Agricultural Policies And Rural Development, The Case Of South Western Nigeria, 1945-1960
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol4.iss2.515Abstract
Agriculture is fundamental to the growth and development of any Nation. In most developing economies, agriculture constitutes a major economic activity of the people either as producer, seller or marketer. Agriculture serves as the main foreign exchange earnings and major source of revenue for the government. It is against this background that this study investigates Agricultural policies and rural development in South Western Nigeria, 1945-1960. It examines the governmental Agricultural Policies adopted in the colonial period geared towards achieving increased agricultural production and the various strategies employed by the Regional government towards achieving the set goals. The paper went further to assess the extent to which the objectives were achieved, and what factors impeded the attainment of set goals. The paper adopts historical and descriptive method in analysing issues raised. The paper conclusively observed that the greater emphasis placed on the production of cash crops at the expense of food crops largely contributed to the food insecurity that is now prevalent in Nigeria. The paper made some recommendations on how Agricultural production could be improved upon and be made to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Nigerian economy.
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i C.O., Komolafe, British Attempt to Develop Trade in Cotton and Palm kernel in Akoko, 1902-1933, In The Olosunta, Ikere Journal of Social studies,vol.1,No 1, 1987, p.1,Michael Crowder agrees that Britain’s overriding interest at the beginning of 1900 in Nigeria were primarily economic, The story of Nigeria. Faber & Faber, London, 1962, p.206. Also in his West Africa Under Colonial Rule, (Hutchinson &co) London, 1968, Crowder dwells at length on the commercial exploitation of West Afrca by Britain and France, See part V, chapter 1. Fredrick Lugard, Nigeria’s first Governor General in his Dual Mandate restated, in a more forceful term the goal of the colonial economy. See Izuakor, L.I., “Quest for Further Exploitation: British Colonial Occupation of Nigeria” in Abolade Adeniji “Tokensim” as Imperial Policy: An Assessement of British Aid to Nigeria, 1929-1939” in the Nigerian journal of Economic History, No 5&6, June, 2003. See also Falola, toyin, (ed), Britain and Nigeria; British Colonial Occupation of Nigeria: Exploitation or Development, (London & New Jersy, Zed Brook, Ltd. 1987.
ii The period between 1900 and 1945could be described as a period of colonial Laissez Faire oriented development policy while the second phase, 1946-1956 was a period of active participation in agricultural production
iii For the models of communal tenure, see for example John M. Cohen, “Land Tenure and Rural Development” in Agricultural Development in Africa ed. R.H. bates, M.F, Lofchie (Prager: New York, 1980), 349-399; Cited in Chima J.Korieh “The State and The Peasantry: Agricultural Policy, Agricultural Crisis and Sustainability in The Igbo Region of southeastern Nigeria, 1900-1995.” PhD Thesis, University of Toronto,2003.
iv Toyin Falola, African Pre-colonial Domestic Economy in An Introduction to The Economic History of Pre-colonial Africa.p.7-10.
v Olutayo Charles Adesina, p.3
vi Dorner, p.p., Land Reform and Economic Development (Tennessee Kinsport Press, Inc. ) 1972. p.17 cited in Fabiyi, Y.L., “Land Tenure Reform in Nigeria: Implications of The Land Use Decree For Agricultural Development,” Ife Journal of Agriculture, vol. 1,(no.2) p.237, 1979
vii Alao, J.A., “ A review of Traditional Authority and its impact on the Acceptance of Agricultural Innovation in Western Nigeria” Ife Journal of Agriculture, Vol. 1, (no. 2), p.286, sept. 1979.
viii This is an out and out transfer by the grantor, having enough land to spare, to the grantee or grantees that usually enjoy perpetuity of tenure subject to good behaviour. The chief or the family head, as the case may be, will either go in person or delegate someone else on his behalf to go , with the intended grantee in sight of the parcel of land. The extent of the land will then be demarcated sometimes by placing a mound of earth at each of the four corners and sometimes by planting some trees in the same position as evidence of the boundary. Then kolas are split, and wine drank in celebration of the occasion to which those present are expected to be witnesses in any future dispute, since the customary law is unwritten. The condition attached to gifts of land must depend on what has been agreed upon between the two parties and the relevant customary rules. See Akinola A. Agboola., p.24&25
ix Akinola A, Agboola, Land Tenure system in Western Nigeria ,Unpublished, p.12.
x Sara, S. Berry, p.91.
xi Agboola, op.cit. p.14.
xii Olutayo Charles Adesina, op.cit. p.23.
xiii Ibid p.23
xiv 27 Johnson Samuel, History of the Yorubas (Lagos, C.M.S. Bookshops Nigeria Ltd., 1921) pp.126-30. In Adesina, p.23.xv Lloyd, P.C., Yoruba Land Law (London, Oxford University Press, 1962) pp. 125-135). In Adesina, p.23.
xviIbid, p.24
xvii Buchanan, K.M. and J.C, Pugh., op.cit. p.100, In Adesina, p.24 .
xviii “Colonialism was not merely a system of exploitation, but one whose essential purpose was to repartriate the profit to the so called ‘mother country’ as a way of exploiting the Africans to develop Europe” See Walter Rodney, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” Abuja, Panaf publishing Inc. p.177.
xix *Nigeria First annual bulletin of Agricultural Department, (Lagos Government Printer, 1922).
xx Chima, J, Korieh “The state and the Peasantry, p.120, see also Key, ed. The political Economy of Colonialism in Ghana, p.199 for the analysis of the different phases of colonial agricultural Policy.
xxi CO/879/65/635/208, “Colonial Office to Governor Mac Gregor, 29, Dec. 1900.
xxii Helleineer, Peasant Agriculture, p.500 cited in the state and the Peasantry,p.120
xxiii Chima, J. Korieh, “The State and The Peasantry…
xxiv Usoro, the Nigerian Oil Palm Industry, p.122, cited in the State and the Peasantry, Chima J, Korieh p.121
xxv Chima J,Korieh ibid, p.121.
xxvi Nigeria First Annual Bulletin of the agricultural department, July 1922,(Lagos: Government Printer) 11, In The State and The Peasantry, p.122
xxvii H, Clifford, Address to the Nigerian Council (Lagos, 1920), p.187 cited in the state and the Peasantry, p.122.
xxviii See Bernstein’s article “Africa Peasantries” 1979, see also, Kay,The Political Economy, 427 Cited in The State and the Peasantry, p.122
xxix “Colonialism was not merely a system of exploitation but one whose essential purpose was to repatriate the profits to the so called mother country” See Walter Rodney ‘How Europe underdeveloped Africa., Abuja, Panaf Publishing, Inc.
xxx W E F., Ward, Colonial rule in West Africa in Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries. A Hand book for Teachers and students, Anene J.C & Broen G.N edts. Ibadan , Ibadan University Press.p.313
xxxi Ade Alade, The economic basis of imperialism in An Economic History of W.A. Since 1750, p.131.
xxxii M.H.Y Kaniki, “The colonial Economy: The former British Zones. UNESCO. Vol.7 p. 282 .
xxxiii Kehinde Faluyi, The Development of Agriculrural Exports and Official Intervention in Produce Marketing, In G.O ogunremi,& E.K Faluyi (eds), An Economic History of West Africa Since 1750,(Ibadan: Rex Charles Publications, 1996) p.176
xxxiv Ibid.p.176
xxxv Olutayo Charles Adesina, “A Historical Evaluation of the Western Nigerian Government AgriculturalPolicy, 1951-1966” M.A Thesis, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1989,p.11
xxxvi Chamberlain, Christopher, “Bulk Exports, Trade Tiers, Regulation and Development: An Economic Approach to the Study of west African LegitimateTrade” The Journal of economic history, vol. 39, (no 2) p.4421, June 1979. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022050700091592
xxxvii Palm oil was the leading export commodity in the first half of the nineteenth century. The industrial revolution in Europe created the need for palm oil which was used as lubricant to oil the machinery, to manufacture candles neede for lighting and to make soap.See Toyin Falola, “Trade with the Europeans in the 19th Century” In An economic History of West Africa since 1950, Ogunremi, G.O., and Faluyi, E.K eds.Ibadan, Rex Charles Publications. P.101.
xxxviii Eicher, K. Carl, “The Dynamics of Long Term Agricultural Development in Nigeria,” In Eicher,K.C., and Liedholm Carl (eds.) Growth and Development of the Nigerian Economy (Michigan, University Press,1970,) p.7, See also O.C Adesina,A Historical Evaluation of The Western Nigerian Government Agricultural Policy, 1951-1966
xxxix Olutayo Charles Adesina, op.cit. p.1.
xl G.K., Heleiner Peasant Agriculture, Government and Economic Growth in Nigeria. (Homewood,Illionis) cited in G.S. Agaldo “A survey of The Impact of Colonial Agricultural Policies On Nigeria Agriculture” in Journal of Economic And Financial Issues,vol.2.,No.1, Dec.2000.p.81
xli Ibid. p.82
xlii Cornelius Olu Ayodele, Topics on Economic History of Nigeria, p.45.
xliii The barter system was equally hampered by a number of factors. This ranges from the economic indices of price allocation to commodities, either on local or inter regional basis; the highly perishable nature of the agricultural products; the problem of identical production within the same locality; and that of transportation of of the heavy products from the point of production to the place of exchange.*ibid,Ayodele Cornelius: Topics on Economic History of Nigeria. p.45
xliv Sara Berry, p.40-44
xlv Thomas Fowell Buxton, The African Slave Trade and its Remedy, London: Frank Cass &Co. 1967 p. 511, In Adesina, Agric, 1.
xlvi Olutayo Charles Adesina, Agric 1,
xlvii Adeina, Agric 1, E.K,. Faluyi, and Sara, S Berry
xlviii 21 Adesina,Agric1
xlix Sara, S Berry, p.43.
l Ibid, p.44
li Sara Berry, P.44
lii NAI, Ife Division, Annual Report, 1917, OYOPROF 4/6 355/1917
liii C.O., Adesina, In AdesinaAgric1. p.68.
liv National Archives Ibadan, (NAI) SD.HI, Hennessey, Maurice: Our Marketing Boards, (n.d), p.3, See Ayoola, G.B, Market Intervention Policy in Nigeria Agriculture, an ex-post evaluation of the technical committee on Produce prices, Development Policy Review, 9:1991,p.285-299- see also Onitiri, HMA and Dupe Olatubosun (eds) The Marketing Board System, Ibadan 1974 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.1991.tb00188.x
lv Ibid, p.50
lvi Oyo Prof. No 1222/2: Oyo/1/855, p.50.
lvii Nigeria Annual Bulletin of the Agricultural Department,(Lagos: Government Printer, 1922), p.26 Cited in The State and The Peasantry, p.133.
lviii An example of this was the School of Agriculture established at Akure in the present Ondo State, See Wale Oyemakinde, “The Role of Government in the Promotion of Agriculture” In An Economic History of West Africa Since 1750. G.O. Ogunremi & E.K Faluyi (eds.), Ibadan, Rex Charles Publication, 1996
lix The Oyo farm school was an initiative of the colonial administration in the Old Oyo Division and was established in conjuction with the Oyo Native Authority in 1942. See National Archive Ibadan (NAI), Vol.11,File No 847 of 30/10/52, Brief Notes on Oyo farm School, 1942-1952”by M.A.O Osho, The Agricultural Officer(A.O), in charge of the Farm Schools in Oyo Division, p. 401. See also N.A.I., Oyo Prof. 1, Vol.11, No E.C. 56 of 13/03/56, 2Memorandum by the Mnister of Agriculture and National Resources”, p. 615.
lx The purpose of establishing the farm school was to provide vocational agricultural training for selected elementary school boys of Oyo Division whose educational standard are too low to make them fit for salaried employment..See Annual Report on the Agricultural Department for the year 1947. Sessional paper No: 12 of 1949, Lagos, Government Printer.p.33.
lxi NAI, Oyo Prof. 1 File No 176/0S/10 of 18/2/43 “Brief Report of the farm School, Oyo, 1942, p.171,lxii Nigeria Annual Report on the Agricultural Department for 1934 (1935), p.26
lxiii Annual Report on the Agricultural Department for the year 1947, Sessional paper No:12, 1949, p.33
lxiv NAI, AR.8/PC1, Nigeria, Annual Report and Accounts of the Western Region Development Board 1951-51 (Lagos, Government Printer 1951) p.1.
lxv Saheed Adeyinka Adejumobi, “Life More Abundant”: Colonial Transition, The Yoruba Intelligentsia and the Politics of education and Social welfare Reform in Nigeria, 1940-1970. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis. The University of Texas, Austin, 2001. p.341.
lxvi Western Nigeria Development Plan 1962-1968, reprinted in Federation of Nigeria National Development Plan 1962-1968 (Lagos: Government printers 1962) p.282. Cited in Adejumobi ibid,p.342.
lxvii Ibid p.342
lxviii NAI. AR.8/PC, Nigeria, Annual Report and Accounts of the Western Region Development Board 1952-53 (Lagos, Government Printer, 1953), p.17
lxix NAI. AR.8/P1 Annual Report… 1950-51 op.cit., p.3
lxx Hopkins, A.G., op.cit., pp.194-195
lxxi Oluwasanmi, op.cit., p.15 in adesina, p.21
lxxii Walker, G., Nigerian Transport in 1950: An Example of An Underdeveloped Tropical Territory (London, Colonial Office, 1955), cited in Olanrewaju, S.A., “The Infrastructure of Exploitation: Transport, Monetary changes, Banking etc” see also, Adesina, op. cit. p.19
lxxiii Ahazuem and Falola, op. cit in Adesina, p.19
lxxiv Claude., Ake, A Political Economy of Africa (London, Longman, 1981, p.45
lxxv W.I., Ofonagoro, Trade and Imperialism in Southern Nigeria, 1904-1929, (enugu and New York, NOK Publishers international, 1979, p.2
lxxvi S.A., Olanrewaju, see also C.O., Adesina, p.19
lxxvii Interview with Andrew Elegbeleye, March, 2014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17771/PUCRio.escrita.23055
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