CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
In the part decade and this present decade there have been seminars conference, article, journals and various publications by both local national and international organization on the sharp decline in Agricultural production on these various programmes, they emphasized on the need to promote Agricultural production, to reduce the unguided population explosion which is at a geometrical procession, while agricultural production was only growing in an arithmetical progression. These seminar also reminded the populace world wide of the impeding danger posed by the continuous deforestation practices of Mr. Forest reserves, bush burning over grazing, continuous cropping and other environmental degradation hazards. They pointed out little or no concerted effort are made in replacing the deforested areas. There called on the need to embark on a national a forestation scheme and forest conservation.
In Nigeria, there has been various campaigns for its inhabitants nationally to plant at least one tree crop in his vicinity annually (tree planting campaign). All these would have been uncalled for but for the indispensable role payed by agriculture in Nigeria economy, justify this project work, agriculture sector is one of the most important sector in developing and under developed countries. It provides food required for the teaming population in both the rural and urban populace. It raw materials for our-allied industries like cotton to our textile industries etc. Agriculture provides employment for most of the labour force in developing countries overs sixty percent (60%) of the aggregates labour force.
Agriculture provides income to individual state and the nation to the present farmers and traders alike it provides money as income and means of livelihoods to the farmer who sell this farm wares to the populace. To the states, like Enugu State the cashew plantation not only provides raw materials to industries, but also provides incomes to the state government and to the nation, it provides a means of export, thereby earning foreign exchange earning and consequately reducing the chronic balance of payment deficit prevalent in these region in 1969. Agriculture contributed 31% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in sierra leon. In 1957, it contributed over 61% to the GDP in Nigeria, it raised up to 80% when the petroleum sector started contributing heavily to the national income presently agriculture was viewed as a narrow field which includes the propagation of seed and crops and the rearing of animals for man use.
This does not fully inculcate all the relevant aspect of agriculture some agriculture addition to rearing of animals did the propagation, include sourcing and buying of farm inputs like seeing machineries etc, the selling of its output (Agriculture Martketing) and the use and provision of credit in agriculture (agricultural-financing). This later view is more prevalent now especially among the literate populace. The use and provision of agricultural credit will equally assist us in appreciatig the role of commerical banks in financing. Agricultural project in Enugu State, their problems and prospects. This forms the cruse of this project.
