| This study examines the problems and functions of farmers in the Oil land of Ogoni, Nigeria. It includes a review of changes in Nigerian Agricultural Development policies since, after the Nigerian Civil War, and how the policies affect the rural farmers.;The study explores the background information of Ogoniland, including the geographical, customs, cultural features, language and populations. A survey of the farmer was taken to collect data on personal characteristics of farmers, farmer's problems, farming conditions, farm output and food consumptions. The resulting data indicates poor agricultural productivity, high cost of food, lack of raw materials and other problems faced by these farmers, which include marketing facilities, roads, inadequate transportation, outdated storage, health and medical facilities, oil spillage and other environmental degradations.;The study examines the benefit of agriculture in economic development of the country, with more emphasis on the advantages of producing surplus of agriculture in the process of economic development. A comparative analysis of small and large-scale format to agricultural reformation is made, including a review of two samples of agricultural development in the oil state of rivers and non-oil state of Imo that have reference to the reformation of Ogoni small farming. The study supports small farming approach to agricultural reformation. This approach introduces changes within the traditional family farms, rather than substitution with large-scale farm settlement schemes. The study takes into account that, in order for an economy to achieve continuous growth, would depends upon the cultural, social and political factors of the country.;The study also noted that since the discovery of oil in the Delta region in the 1950s, farmers have protested the oil companies's activities or drillage. The oil companies have not only divested the local environment, they have destroyed the economic viability of the region for local farmers and producers.;Finally, the study encourages the policy and lawmakers to pay more attention in making available more resources to providing infrastructure in the rural areas, rather than creating high cost of state and federal farms.*;*U.S. Embassy Nigeria: Crossroads-(Jan.2001) Vol.7 No.2 Clark W. Reynolds, Agricultural Sector Analysis and Rural Development: Social Science Research Priorities-Chapter 9. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, "The Ogoni of Nigeria: oil and Exploration." Minority Rights Group International , London. U.K. (May 2001). |
