It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has prioritised agriculture in its fiscal plans for 2016.

The focus on agriculture is not surprising especially due to the dwindling oil prices in the international oil market which is affecting the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria is an oil producing country with over 50% of its earnings coming from the oil sector.

Here are the lists of 10 new agricultural trends and facts in the agricultural sector that all Nigerians should be aware of.

Read below:

1. Agriculture accounts for about two-thirds of Nigeria’s employment (120 million people), contributing at least 22% to the country’s economic growth.

2. Nigeria has 84 million hectares of fertile land and also boast of two of Africa’s largest rivers.

3. Nigeria is the 2nd largest producer of tomatoes in Africa and the 13th largest producer in the world (1.2 million tonnes).

4. 75% of the farming population in Nigeria are women.

5. The availability of laons to Nigerian farmers is just 3.9%

6. The federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has set aside 40 billion naira to support small holder farmers at a maximum interest rate of 9%

7. Nigeria hosts the largest Nigerian dwarf goat population with approximately 11 million in the southern part of Nigeria.

8. The average Nigerian cow weighs 317kg and produces 2.2 litres of milk per day.

9. Nigeria consume 6 million tonnes of chicken every year, but we produce only 1.5 million tonnes

10. Nigeria is the largest producer of shea nut and its shea qualifies as one of the best in the world.

Source – Naij