Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria

*Romanus Osabohien and Toun Ogunbiyi*

### **Abstract**

The aim of this study is to examine the determining factors of plant nutrition and sustainable crop production in Nigeria. The study applied an in-depth review of literature and observed that different biotic and abiotic factors interact together to determine the outcome of plant nutrition and sustainable crop production in Nigeria. These factors include; types of fertilizers applied, atmospheric emissions, level of technological development, infrastructural facilities, climatic conditions, irrigation method, and level of skilled labour force. The study recommended that there should be increased and equal access to credit facilities, social protection incentives, and more innovation and technological involvement in the agricultural sector in order to increase productivity and efficiency.

**Keywords:** credit access, crop production, plant nutrition, productivity

#### **1. Introduction**

Farmers experience various problems in the quest to produce enough crops in order to meet the demand of the ever-teaming population and still keep constant and without comprising the standard of the available resources for generations to come. Mechanisms are needed to enhance soil and plants nutrients in order to increase crop yields, and plant nutrients are one of the requirements to enhance crop production [1, 2].

Plants' nutritional quality directly affects human nutrition in terms of productivity. It is therefore no gainsaying that the quality of food consumed in a country determines the quality of its populace. In many developing and developed countries, deficiency of micronutrients in pastures and crops has a negative effect on the health of both plants and animals [3]. In addition, the adequate provision of sunlight, air and water is a major prerequisite for optimum plant yield and improved crop management. In a bid to achieve these, various countries have devised means to reduce the negative effects of both abiotic and biotic factors in plants. After dedicating sufficient time and capital for farming, the goal of many Nigerian farmers is to produce sustainable crop yield [1].

However, certain factors come into play which might not augur well for agricultural yield in general and crop production in particular. Considering the rate of food insecurity in most developing countries, resulting from unfavourable weather condition owing to global climate change, the improved sustainable management of plant nutrition has been considered a precondition to reduce the challenge of prevailing hunger in the affected countries, Nigeria not excluded [1].

Owing to inadequate mechanisation and the small-scale nature of agricultural production, Nigeria has not been able to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

emissions that affects crop productivity and plant nutrient is nitrous oxide, which is

Ufiobor [10] further identified that one of the major factors that determines crop yield in Nigeria is the climatic condition. From 1970 to 2018, temperature has increased from an average of 1.4–1.9°C [11] cited in Ufiobor [10]. The northwest, northeast and southwest of the country are especially being affected by extreme harsh weather conditions. The consequence of this is that higher temperature will decrease soil moisture which will have an attendant effect on plant nutrients and

In the developed economies, most especially Europe and North America, sustainable crop production has been increasing rapidly due to the developed nature of their farming system which has been made possible as a result of innovation and technological enhancement [10]. Farmers in these countries have accepted the evolving change and are now actively engaged in research and training for a sustainable cropping system [10]. In these countries, the government has also implemented programmes to support rigorous scientific investigation that will improve plant nutrition to produce healthy food for its populace. However, Nigeria has not yet witnessed the kind of agricultural evolution that has taken place in developed countries. One major constraint to agricultural development in Nigeria has been the slow response to technological adoption which in turn leads to low productivity and poor farming system, which affects plant nutrients. Nigeria majorly depends on traditional farming system which has an effect on the use of farmlands as the farming system is mainly carried out without the use of machines. Just like other developing countries, the role of labour force in determining the level of output in all the sectors cannot be undermined. The agricultural system in Nigeria is highly labour intensive as labour force is a crucial part of its production system. According to Ufiobor [10], labour force accounts for over 90% of its total farm operations. Ufiobor [10] further envisaged that this could be as a result of the fact that many of its educated youth have shown little interest in the agricultural sector over the years, thus causing a shortage of skilled labour force in the agricultural sector that can also affect the nutritional value of plants and total crop pro-

According to the Nations Encyclopedia [12], major crops cultivated in Nigeria include sesame, beans, nuts, cashew, beans, groundnut, cassava, cocoa, gum Arabic, millet, melon, rice, palm kernels, rubber sorghum, banana, plantain, beans and yams. However, the most widely produced crops are cassava and yams in the south and millet and sorghum in the north. Nigerian farmers also grow many fruits and vegetables. In recent years, the use of fertiliser in many countries has been increasing overtime. However, the use of organic wastes for pasture has been more feasible in the developed countries especially China, than in all other countries including Nigeria [13]. This is an indication of the fact that the Nigerian government has not really encouraged the use and development of organic fertiliser in Nigeria which might be responsible for the low level of manure generated for the purpose of

The International Food Policy Research Institute [14] identified that there are signs of an increase use of fertilisers in countries where fertiliser subsidies are being granted to farmers by the government. Prominent among these countries are Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia. The use of fertiliser by Nigerian farmers is however quite common especially among the shareholder farmers. In some cases, these farmers also use some inorganic fertiliser which covers 70% of plots of lands [14]. Since the 1970s, efforts by the Nigerian government to stimulate the demand for fertiliser have been on the increase. This aim has been achieved by growing commercial fertiliser sector through price reduction, extension services to boost soil

determined by fertiliser application, irrigation methods and animal feeds.

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

crop production.

duction itself.

farming.

**143**

According to Obasi et al. [4], which noted that the sub-Saharan Africa region is among the countries that have continued to experience significant food shortages, more than 40% of the region population is estimated to be suffering from hunger and poor nutrition. Just like many other developing countries, the Food and Agricultural Organisation identified that widespread poverty, poor economic conditions, institutional failure and constraints in logistics, among many other challenges, significantly affect crop production in Nigeria.

In a bid to tackle these challenges, the Nigerian government over the years has intensified efforts towards improving both plant nutrient and crop production mainly through better land use, human resource development in the agricultural sector, research in diversification of types of crops and seeds, fight against pests and diseases and increased use of fertilisers. However, despite the resources devoted to crop production in Nigeria, the productive efficiency of farmers for most crops still fall below 60% [4]. Globally, both socioeconomic and ecological factors interact to determine plant nutrients and sustainable crop production. Efforts to intensify agricultural production in Nigeria has been a continuous process which is taking place through several pathways; therefore, we examined how some of these factors affects plant nutrition and crop production in the case of Nigeria.

### **2. Literature review**

Crop production has continued to play a major role in sustaining economic growth in Nigeria. However, its sustainability has been threatened with major challenges overtime. These challenges range from deficiency in plant nutrient as a result of unfavourable biotic and abiotic factors which includes unfavourable climatic conditions, low level of technological development in the agricultural sector, misapplication of fertilisers, infrastructural decay and so on. Various policies have been recommended overtime to address the issue of low crop production in Nigeria. However, it is salient to know how some of these factors have affected plant nutrition and crop production in Nigeria; examined below are some of the factors as identified in the literature.

In an attempt to correct the deficiencies of nutritional elements in crops, a wide range of Nigerian farmers often apply organic and inorganic fertilisers as both play a prominent role in improving soil fertility. However, fertiliser application is a necessary condition for crop yield but not a sufficient condition for an improved crop yield. According to Awodun et al. [5] cited in Ayeni et al. [6], both organic manure and fertilisers play different roles in improving soil fertility, but they both cannot supply all the nutrients in plants that can solely feed a teeming Nigerian population. Nottidge [7] further identified that fertiliser application leads to nutrient imbalance and low infiltration rate, all of which hinders the uptake of nutrients by plants. Also, Ayeni et al. [6] identified that the constant use of inorganic fertilisers can increase the level of soil acidity thereby leading to soil damage.

It has been globally recognised that the most serious threat to agricultural productivity is environmental issue [8]. For countries with higher temperature, the consequences of climate change tend to be more severe. This is most especially true for many developing countries with little adaptive capacity [9]. In recent times, atmospheric emission has been on the increase due to the improper use of agro chemicals, low level of land and environmental management and inadequate manure management. According to Yobannes [9], one of the most important

#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

Owing to inadequate mechanisation and the small-scale nature of agricultural production, Nigeria has not been able to achieve self-sufficiency in food

challenges, significantly affect crop production in Nigeria.

affects plant nutrition and crop production in the case of Nigeria.

According to Obasi et al. [4], which noted that the sub-Saharan Africa region is among the countries that have continued to experience significant food shortages, more than 40% of the region population is estimated to be suffering from hunger and poor nutrition. Just like many other developing countries, the Food and Agricultural Organisation identified that widespread poverty, poor economic conditions, institutional failure and constraints in logistics, among many other

In a bid to tackle these challenges, the Nigerian government over the years has intensified efforts towards improving both plant nutrient and crop production mainly through better land use, human resource development in the agricultural sector, research in diversification of types of crops and seeds, fight against pests and diseases and increased use of fertilisers. However, despite the resources devoted to crop production in Nigeria, the productive efficiency of farmers for most crops still fall below 60% [4]. Globally, both socioeconomic and ecological factors interact to determine plant nutrients and sustainable crop production. Efforts to intensify agricultural production in Nigeria has been a continuous process which is taking place through several pathways; therefore, we examined how some of these factors

Crop production has continued to play a major role in sustaining economic growth in Nigeria. However, its sustainability has been threatened with major challenges overtime. These challenges range from deficiency in plant nutrient as a result of unfavourable biotic and abiotic factors which includes unfavourable climatic conditions, low level of technological development in the agricultural sector, misapplication of fertilisers, infrastructural decay and so on. Various policies have been recommended overtime to address the issue of low crop production in Nigeria. However, it is salient to know how some of these factors have affected plant nutrition and crop production in Nigeria; examined below are some of the factors as

In an attempt to correct the deficiencies of nutritional elements in crops, a wide range of Nigerian farmers often apply organic and inorganic fertilisers as both play a prominent role in improving soil fertility. However, fertiliser application is a necessary condition for crop yield but not a sufficient condition for an improved crop yield. According to Awodun et al. [5] cited in Ayeni et al. [6], both organic manure and fertilisers play different roles in improving soil fertility, but they both cannot supply all the nutrients in plants that can solely feed a teeming Nigerian population. Nottidge [7] further identified that fertiliser application leads to nutrient imbalance and low infiltration rate, all of which hinders the uptake of nutrients

by plants. Also, Ayeni et al. [6] identified that the constant use of inorganic fertilisers can increase the level of soil acidity thereby leading to soil damage.

It has been globally recognised that the most serious threat to agricultural productivity is environmental issue [8]. For countries with higher temperature, the consequences of climate change tend to be more severe. This is most especially true for many developing countries with little adaptive capacity [9]. In recent times, atmospheric emission has been on the increase due to the improper use of agro chemicals, low level of land and environmental management and inadequate manure management. According to Yobannes [9], one of the most important

production.

*Sustainable Crop Production*

**2. Literature review**

identified in the literature.

**142**

emissions that affects crop productivity and plant nutrient is nitrous oxide, which is determined by fertiliser application, irrigation methods and animal feeds.

Ufiobor [10] further identified that one of the major factors that determines crop yield in Nigeria is the climatic condition. From 1970 to 2018, temperature has increased from an average of 1.4–1.9°C [11] cited in Ufiobor [10]. The northwest, northeast and southwest of the country are especially being affected by extreme harsh weather conditions. The consequence of this is that higher temperature will decrease soil moisture which will have an attendant effect on plant nutrients and crop production.

In the developed economies, most especially Europe and North America, sustainable crop production has been increasing rapidly due to the developed nature of their farming system which has been made possible as a result of innovation and technological enhancement [10]. Farmers in these countries have accepted the evolving change and are now actively engaged in research and training for a sustainable cropping system [10]. In these countries, the government has also implemented programmes to support rigorous scientific investigation that will improve plant nutrition to produce healthy food for its populace. However, Nigeria has not yet witnessed the kind of agricultural evolution that has taken place in developed countries. One major constraint to agricultural development in Nigeria has been the slow response to technological adoption which in turn leads to low productivity and poor farming system, which affects plant nutrients. Nigeria majorly depends on traditional farming system which has an effect on the use of farmlands as the farming system is mainly carried out without the use of machines.

Just like other developing countries, the role of labour force in determining the level of output in all the sectors cannot be undermined. The agricultural system in Nigeria is highly labour intensive as labour force is a crucial part of its production system. According to Ufiobor [10], labour force accounts for over 90% of its total farm operations. Ufiobor [10] further envisaged that this could be as a result of the fact that many of its educated youth have shown little interest in the agricultural sector over the years, thus causing a shortage of skilled labour force in the agricultural sector that can also affect the nutritional value of plants and total crop production itself.

According to the Nations Encyclopedia [12], major crops cultivated in Nigeria include sesame, beans, nuts, cashew, beans, groundnut, cassava, cocoa, gum Arabic, millet, melon, rice, palm kernels, rubber sorghum, banana, plantain, beans and yams. However, the most widely produced crops are cassava and yams in the south and millet and sorghum in the north. Nigerian farmers also grow many fruits and vegetables. In recent years, the use of fertiliser in many countries has been increasing overtime. However, the use of organic wastes for pasture has been more feasible in the developed countries especially China, than in all other countries including Nigeria [13]. This is an indication of the fact that the Nigerian government has not really encouraged the use and development of organic fertiliser in Nigeria which might be responsible for the low level of manure generated for the purpose of farming.

The International Food Policy Research Institute [14] identified that there are signs of an increase use of fertilisers in countries where fertiliser subsidies are being granted to farmers by the government. Prominent among these countries are Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia. The use of fertiliser by Nigerian farmers is however quite common especially among the shareholder farmers. In some cases, these farmers also use some inorganic fertiliser which covers 70% of plots of lands [14]. Since the 1970s, efforts by the Nigerian government to stimulate the demand for fertiliser have been on the increase. This aim has been achieved by growing commercial fertiliser sector through price reduction, extension services to boost soil

**Figure 1.**

fertility, increased use of technology and increased access to credit facilities by farmers [15] (**Figure 1**).

In the year 1980, fertiliser production (kilogrammes per hectare of arable land) in Nigeria was 9,220,000. Over the past 36 years, its highest value was 436,957,273 in the year 2013, while its lowest value was 70,115,000 in the year 2007. The upward and downward movement of this trend is an indication that the level of fertiliser production in Nigeria has not witnessed a stable movement.

According to the International Food Policy Research Institute [14], the types of fertiliser commonly produced and used in Nigeria include urea, nitrogenphosphorus-potassium (NPK) and superphosphate (SSP). The most commonly used NPK blends are 15-15-15, 20-10-10, 12-12-17 + 2 MgO and 25-10-10. NPK fertilisers are further formulated to be site and crop specific. In a bid to further boost the effective procurement and distribution of fertiliser, the Nigerian government at various times has introduced several measures for its production, procurement and distribution.

In Nigeria, emphasis on increased agricultural productivity of farmers from the perspective of soil conditioning has been on chemical fertiliser, while there has been less emphasis on the impact of the bio-organic input [16]. Even as the quest to ensure the eradication of hunger and poverty has been on the increase, the Nigerian government has taken measures to ensure national self-sufficiency through local fertiliser production, supplemented by importation to ensure adequate and timely fertiliser supply to all farmers. The government also offers a subsidy on the market price of fertiliser so as to make fertiliser affordable to smallholder farmers. Given that the agenda of most successive government is to boost local food production and ensure national self-sufficiency, various efforts has to be intensified to synergise the use of both organic and inorganic medium of improving soil fertility for plant nutrition.

#### **3. Methodology**

The method used in this study is the survey of literature and stylised facts approach. Relevant data was collected from Food and Agricultural Organization data (FA) data base and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of the Nigerian statistical bulletin for the indicators of crop production and other major agriculture commodities in Nigeria. Tables were used to describe the yields and prices of various agriculture commodities and determinants. **Table 1** presents crop

**Year**

**145**

Crop production Total agriculture Male agriculture Female agricultural

Agriculture

*Source: Authors'*

**Table 1.** *Crop production*

 *and its* 

*determinants.*

*compilation.*

 land area

employment

 61.9 78.3

 76.3

 77.5

 78.8

 78.8

 79.8

 80.5

 80.9

 79.8

 75.8

 76.9

 78.0

 79.1

 77.7

 77.7

 77.7

 61.9

 64.2

 62.3

 57.0

 56.3

 54.9

 54.0

 50.5

 48.0

 39.5

 42.2

 44.7

 46.7

 45.2

 44.8

 44.9

 45.3

employment

 51.1

 51.7

 55.8

 52.7

 45.3

 44.4

 42.7

 41.7

 35.8

 30.9

 19.4

 22.0

 25.3

 28.2

 26.7

 26.3

 26.1

 26.2

employment

 57.3

 57.6

 60.7

 58.2

 51.9

 51.2

 49.6

 48.6

 44.0

 40.4

 30.6

 33.1

 35.9

 38.3

 36.8

 36.4

 36.3

 36.5

80.5

 79.4

 83.3

 87.8

 93.7

 99.5 106.9

 97.5 104.3

 90.1 104.5

 96.3 107.5 104.3

 **2007 2008**

 **2009**

 **2010**

 **2011 2012**

 **2013**

 **2014**

 117.8 120.1 118.9

—

 **2015 2016 2017**

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*


**Table 1.** *Cropproductionandits*

*determinants.*

fertility, increased use of technology and increased access to credit facilities by

fertiliser production in Nigeria has not witnessed a stable movement.

*Agricultural fertiliser use. Source: Authors' computation using excel [13].*

fertiliser commonly produced and used in Nigeria include urea, nitrogenphosphorus-potassium (NPK) and superphosphate (SSP). The most commonly used NPK blends are 15-15-15, 20-10-10, 12-12-17 + 2 MgO and 25-10-10. NPK fertilisers are further formulated to be site and crop specific. In a bid to further boost the effective procurement and distribution of fertiliser, the Nigerian government at various times has introduced several measures for its production, procure-

In the year 1980, fertiliser production (kilogrammes per hectare of arable land) in Nigeria was 9,220,000. Over the past 36 years, its highest value was 436,957,273 in the year 2013, while its lowest value was 70,115,000 in the year 2007. The upward and downward movement of this trend is an indication that the level of

According to the International Food Policy Research Institute [14], the types of

In Nigeria, emphasis on increased agricultural productivity of farmers from the perspective of soil conditioning has been on chemical fertiliser, while there has been less emphasis on the impact of the bio-organic input [16]. Even as the quest to ensure the eradication of hunger and poverty has been on the increase, the Nigerian government has taken measures to ensure national self-sufficiency through local fertiliser production, supplemented by importation to ensure adequate and timely fertiliser supply to all farmers. The government also offers a subsidy on the market price of fertiliser so as to make fertiliser affordable to smallholder farmers. Given that the agenda of most successive government is to boost local food production and ensure national self-sufficiency, various efforts has to be intensified to synergise the use of both organic and inorganic medium of improving soil fertility for plant

The method used in this study is the survey of literature and stylised facts approach. Relevant data was collected from Food and Agricultural Organization data (FA) data base and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of the Nigerian statistical bulletin for the indicators of crop production and other major agriculture commodities in Nigeria. Tables were used to describe the yields and prices of various agriculture commodities and determinants. **Table 1** presents crop

farmers [15] (**Figure 1**).

*Sustainable Crop Production*

**Figure 1.**

ment and distribution.

nutrition.

**144**

**3. Methodology**


**Jan**

167.1

168.8

994.4

1812.0

258.9

420.6

234.3

212.5

324.0

286.2

312.1

 352.7

 378.0

 332.8

 350.4

 348.2

 344.4

 313.5

 339.5

 320.6

 309.9

 304.9

 306.3

 308.9

 299.3

 323.8

 325.5

 323.3

 320.2

 316.4

 292.9

 278.9

 278.9

 355.4

 360.9

 324.8

 347.7

 352.1

 354.1

 349.6

 351.1

 325.9

 315.1

 317.5

 214.4

 215.8

 221.8

 224.7

 228.5

 223.5

 226.3

 216.0

 229.9

 233.3

 253.1

 234.3

 236.7

 240.7

 241.5

 249.7

 251.3

 254.0

 231.7

 247.4

 244.9

 240.8

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

 434.8

 442.0

 452.4

 458.2

 471.3

 478.8

 492.9

 439.9

 473.6

 475.5

 551.8

 241.4

 246.9

 205.6

 203.6

 214.8

 213.1

 236.7

 238.3

 217.6

 228.5

 311.1

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

 1955.1

 2084.8

 2319.9

 2388.1

 2416.3

 2395.8

 2161.7

 2204.0

 2190.2

 2144.2

 1621.4

 998.7

 1079.2

 1008.9

 1047.3

 1071.1

 1080.3

 998.6

 1069.9

 1074.7

 1081.6

 1060.0

 174.7

 178.8

 185.6

 190.6

 191.4

 193.0

 193.4

 168.2

 191.1

 189.9

 161.9

 172.9

 174.0

 182.9

 188.9

 190.3

 191.3

 192.4

 168.1

 191.2

 185.1

 154.4

Maize grain: white, sold loose

**147**

Maize grain: yellow, sold loose

Mudfish (aro), fresh

Mudfish, dried

Onion bulb Palm oil: 1 bottle, specify bottle

Plantain (ripe) Plantain (unripe)

Rice: agric, sold loose

Rice: local, sold loose

Rice: medium, grained

Rice: imported,

Sweet potato Tilapia fish (epiya), fresh

Titus, frozen

Tomato Vegetable oil: 1 bottle, specify bottle

Wheat flour: prepacked (golden penny 2 kg)

Yam tuber *Source: Authors.*

**Table 2.**

*Prices of items of various* 

*agricultural/food*

 *commodities*

 *in 2017 (January to December).*

high-quality,

 sold loose

 402.0 129.4

792.2

884.8

247.5

495.3

 626.5 210.6

 215.6

 255.9

 250.3

 279.2

 292.1

 294.1

 343.4

 259.5

 223.6

 212.3

 211.6

 621.4

 623.1

 627.3

 646.2

 632.1

 630.5

 647.3

 627.0

 641.4

 649.2

 639.2

 507.4

 513.4

 525.7

 524.8

 546.3

 552.9

 559.0

 505.5

 547.1

 540.2

 565.0

 236.6

 268.6

 285.7

 339.7

 375.0

 394.1

 431.3

 322.4

 291.5

 286.4

 276.2

 942.2

 964.6

 935.0

 969.6

 1012.2

 1014.5

 998.0

 974.0

 1050.4

 1125.9

 1109.2

 795.3

 798.1

 800.8

 805.2

 817.6

 823.3

 820.3

 795.6

 822.4

 813.8

 1158.8

 127.2

 132.9

 132.4

 130.3

 135.8

 138.0

 138.6

 139.0

 115.7

 111.4

 120.2

 410.6

 418.7

 388.5

 410.5

 415.8

 409.2

 384.3

 398.0

 368.9

 360.8

 371.2

 **Feb**

 **Mar**

 **Apr**

 **May**

 **Jun**

 **Jul**

 **Aug**

 **Sep**

 **Oct**

 **Nov**


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Table 2.** *Prices of items of various agricultural/food commodities in 2017 (January to December).*

**Jan**

42736.0

47.4

353.6

305.5

1001.2

1249.5

302.9

270.3

377.4

899.6

2204.1

817.1

765.3

919.1

959.1

 136.3 157.7

1419.8

219.6

255.8

477.9

1880.0

300.9

759.0

 764.6

 774.9

 778.2

 785.4

 794.6

 795.8

 797.8

 785.6

 828.9

 844.6

 1015.6

 307.3

 311.8

 318.9

 315.9

 319.3

 311.4

 310.5

 307.5

 291.1

 290.6

 314.2

 1915.7

 1902.2

 1928.0

 1919.6

 1916.2

 1915.2

 1904.7

 1878.5

 1914.5

 1903.7

 1545.3

 482.9

 494.1

 494.2

 500.2

 503.3

 505.1

 508.3

 478.0

 504.0

 503.8

 660.4

 250.5

 302.0

 320.9

 326.8

 354.6

 350.5

 345.8

 335.9

 305.0

 289.2

 219.8

 260.9

 273.7

 288.5

 293.0

 315.6

 317.1

 310.1

 302.0

 268.1

 251.9

 199.7

 1429.0

 1555.5

 1606.6

 1606.0

 1645.3

 1623.8

 1529.3

 1570.3

 1580.1

 1571.5

 1708.6

 166.1

 177.1

 197.2

 198.4

 194.7

 195.9

 190.5

 206.0

 198.7

 196.0

 191.4

 140.5

 143.6

 151.5

 157.9

 162.8

 162.7

 158.8

 174.4

 170.6

 169.4

 159.7

 935.5

 958.7

 972.7

 991.6

 989.5

 968.8

 972.6

 947.6

 967.0

 968.8

 1077.8

 963.5

 980.9

 886.6

 925.6

 952.2

 958.0

 946.9

 979.3

 960.7

 953.6

 950.6

 785.4

 907.5

 768.1

 819.6

 832.8

 832.7

 834.7

 817.2

 800.1

 790.9

 1156.0

 825.3

 834.3

 837.1

 845.9

 848.4

 853.2

 852.9

 839.5

 845.1

 847.7

 1007.4

 2150.2

 2189.6

 2189.1

 2213.7

 2255.2

 2215.3

 2176.8

 2159.0

 2083.7

 2214.3

 2146.6

 885.1

 884.1

 886.7

 900.7

 916.5

 910.6

 921.2

 894.5

 906.9

 902.0

 919.8

 392.0

 421.5

 425.5

 460.1

 472.3

 473.4

 415.3

 431.6

 416.2

 417.2

 319.9

 264.9

 262.3

 277.7

 282.3

 286.8

 285.6

 258.7

 286.3

 280.3

 274.3

 268.2

 299.7

 297.5

 296.6

 307.7

 320.6

 314.5

 304.2

 310.6

 305.9

 299.0

 290.1

 1270.7

 1281.7

 1323.1

 1378.9

 1393.4

 1376.9

 1276.9

 1324.9

 1312.7

 1286.9

 1236.4

 995.6

 1010.3

 1035.4

 1123.7

 1129.0

 1128.9

 1151.4

 1078.5

 1081.3

 1065.6

 1067.7

 309.9

 318.5

 324.0

 332.3

 339.6

 344.0

 335.7

 358.1

 342.1

 337.1

 314.9

 337.1

 353.3

 357.2

 365.9

 374.3

 382.3

 370.3

 404.8

 382.6

 369.8

 362.0

*Sustainable Crop Production*

 42.9

 43.9

 46.2

 45.7

 45.3

 44.3

 42.9

 45.7

 42.1

 40.8

 41.3

 42767.0

 42795.0

 42826.0

 42856.0

 42887.0

 42917.0

 42948.0

 42979.0

 43009.0

 43040.0

 43070.0

Item labels

**146**

Agric eggs (medium size price of one)

Beans: brown, sold loose

Beans: white black eye, sold loose

Beef bone in Beef, boneless

Bread sliced 500 g Bread unsliced 500 g

Broken rice (Ofada) Catfish (obokun), fresh

Catfish, dried

Catfish, smoked

Chicken feet Chicken wings Dried fish sardine

Evaporated

Evaporated

Frozen chicken Gari white, sold loose

Gari yellow, sold loose

Groundnut

Iced sardine

Irish potato Mackerel: frozen

 oil: 1 bottle, specify bottle

 tinned milk (peak), 170 g

 tinned milk carnation, 170 g

 **Feb**

 **Mar**

 **Apr**

 **May**

 **Jun**

 **Jul**

 **Aug**

 **Sep**

 **Oct**

 **Nov**


**Item labels**

**149**

Mackerel, frozen

Maize grain: white, sold loose

Maize grain: yellow, sold loose

Mudfish (aro), fresh

Mudfish, dried

Onion bulb Palm oil: 1 bottle, specify bottle

Plantain (ripe) Plantain (unripe) Rice: agric, sold loose

Rice, local, sold loose

Rice: medium grained Rice: imported, high-quality

Sweet potato

Tilapia fish (epiya), fresh

Titus, frozen

Tomato Vegetable oil: 1 bottle, specify bottle

Wheat flour, prepacked (golden penny 2 kg)

Yam tuber *Source: Authors.*

**Table 3.**

*Prices of items of various* 

*agricultural/food*

 *commodities*

 *in 2018.*

 sold loose

**Jan**

915.3

190.5

180.0

1099.8

2134.7

248.7

480.9

273.7

248.7

322.8

274.7

308.5

360.8

113.4

864.0

894.7

272.0

540.3

 655.1 226.5

 230.9

 254.5

 279.6

 291.3

 285.8

 280.8

 293.0

 280.3

 252.2

 239.2

 212.7

 646.0

 657.6

 649.9

 659.5

 660.1

 657.6

 661.1

 651.9

 656.8

 659.6

 662.9

 549.0

 533.5

 548.0

 553.2

 552.1

 547.9

 540.4

 546.8

 536.1

 536.5

 507.8

 267.1

 267.1

 289.5

 307.1

 317.7

 336.3

 336.7

 328.3

 306.6

 294.4

 271.5

 901.5

 905.8

 898.6

 921.0

 950.3

 924.8

 946.5

 941.5

 923.9

 1105.2

 926.4

 885.7

 890.1

 889.5

 924.1

 939.4

 935.2

 947.8

 979.2

 923.1

 934.1

 887.5

 126.4

 130.3

 137.4

 150.5

 148.7

 163.3

 167.1

 167.3

 154.7

 147.7

 140.7

 365.2

 363.3

 369.4

 374.6

 373.5

 370.8

 375.0

 371.3

 373.0

 376.6

 370.6

 314.8

 317.2

 323.6

 325.4

 323.1

 319.4

 322.5

 319.5

 314.9

 318.9

 318.0

 276.3

 283.6

 281.5

 286.2

 280.8

 276.3

 280.3

 277.8

 277.9

 278.5

 280.8

 322.8

 326.6

 322.5

 327.8

 331.1

 325.1

 327.0

 328.4

 323.3

 329.1

 321.6

 232.2

 242.5

 235.7

 247.1

 248.5

 248.6

 247.1

 244.3

 226.6

 225.5

 215.7

 257.6

 259.8

 262.3

 273.5

 276.6

 270.8

 275.8

 272.6

 245.6

 254.1

 227.3

 510.1

 492.1

 486.8

 494.9

 500.0

 496.4

 501.1

 501.0

 495.1

 496.2

 474.5

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

 252.0

 235.3

 234.4

 234.0

 240.0

 246.9

 252.1

 251.3

 232.8

 287.7

 259.4

 2066.0

 1945.3

 1912.7

 1928.2

 1941.9

 1907.2

 1897.1

 1908.0

 1874.4

 1894.3

 1861.7

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

 1098.6

 1069.9

 1039.0

 1062.7

 1070.6

 1065.6

 1104.8

 1072.1

 1052.1

 1067.1

 1032.2

 199.8

 193.8

 191.1

 195.7

 197.3

 190.4

 191.1

 189.8

 178.4

 168.9

 160.4

 185.2

 231.6

 173.5

 180.5

 183.7

 179.4

 180.1

 179.9

 171.1

 165.0

 161.5

 875.3

 915.9

 896.4

 927.2

 908.9

 922.9

 926.2

 944.5

 921.0

 937.8

 934.2

 **Feb**

 **Mar**

 **Apr**

 **May**

 **Jun**

 **Jul**

 **Aug**

 **Sep**

 **Oct**

 **Nov**


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Table** 

**3.** *Prices of items of various agricultural/food commodities*

 *in 2018.*

**Item labels**

**148**

Agric eggs (medium size price of one)

Beans: brown, sold loose

Beans: white black eye, sold loose

Beef bone in

Beef, boneless

Bread: sliced, 500 g Bread: unsliced, 500 g

Broken rice (Ofada) Catfish (obokun), fresh

Catfish, dried

Catfish, smoked

Chicken feet Chicken wings Dried fish sardine

Evaporated

Evaporated

Frozen chicken Gari: white, sold loose

Gari: yellow, sold loose

Groundnut

Iced sardine

Irish potato

 oil: 1 bottle, specify bottle

 tinned milk (peak), 170 g

 tinned milk carnation, 170 g

**Jan**

38.8

385.5

344.5

1045.6

1298.7

313.4

282.1

413.2

1014.6

1852.9

1540.8

850.0

950.8

1455.5

 172.2 196.7

1547.5

229.3

271.3

528.6

861.1

232.9

 250.9

 261.8

 282.1

 300.6

 297.1

 296.6

 309.5

 291.9

 300.1

 330.1

 298.6

 885.1

 899.7

 907.9

 941.5

 923.5

 940.5

 937.2

 931.6

 916.8

 921.0

 906.4

 571.1

 585.2

 584.5

 601.5

 612.4

 603.6

 603.4

 608.4

 592.5

 603.9

 585.5

 250.1

 244.0

 246.5

 256.5

 259.8

 248.7

 246.8

 253.7

 236.3

 222.4

 196.0

 210.2

 209.1

 208.2

 216.0

 216.7

 200.7

 198.8

 195.9

 188.4

 183.6

 166.6

 1548.9

 1544.9

 1537.9

 1536.5

 1537.2

 1541.4

 1533.2

 1534.2

 1558.2

 1551.2

 1625.1

 191.1

 187.6

 188.1

 192.9

 189.9

 187.8

 184.2

 189.3

 187.2

 187.6

 190.0

 166.5

 158.5

 160.2

 165.3

 166.2

 165.7

 163.0

 166.3

 163.3

 162.4

 163.3

 1405.7

 1410.1

 1371.8

 1400.0

 1378.6

 1395.4

 1382.9

 1374.3

 1365.7

 1331.6

 1343.0

 955.0

 935.8

 921.5

 925.5

 960.6

 963.0

 992.5

 1012.5

 982.5

 981.5

 944.0

 778.6

 773.0

 758.9

 782.5

 784.8

 930.5

 803.0

 808.1

 775.7

 985.3

 737.8

 1896.9

 1524.7

 1514.5

 1520.9

 1527.8

 1504.4

 1512.4

 1499.6

 1482.3

 1490.8

 1519.8

 1857.2

 1793.6

 1753.5

 1779.7

 1770.5

 1792.1

 1807.1

 1766.5

 2362.3

 1815.0

 1808.6

 1037.3

 1008.3

 993.5

 1013.1

 1062.4

 1064.7

 1088.9

 1089.3

 1080.4

 1112.1

 1060.8

 405.7

 399.5

 400.9

 405.0

 404.4

 403.6

 397.3

 384.5

 370.2

 385.6

 381.6

 284.4

 278.6

 278.6

 278.1

 275.6

 272.7

 278.3

 278.6

 272.9

 277.9

 271.1

 314.2

 305.9

 306.5

 306.0

 308.0

 305.3

 308.0

 303.8

 299.2

 305.5

 296.9

 1274.7

 1262.5

 1257.7

 1275.8

 1271.5

 1262.7

 1281.0

 1281.6

 1260.6

 1251.4

 1270.8

 1017.3

 1024.6

 980.3

 1011.1

 1034.6

 1028.1

 1061.8

 1027.7

 1003.3

 998.7

 997.7

 348.6

 357.0

 355.3

 367.2

 369.4

 361.3

 361.7

 362.7

 354.2

 346.4

 344.7

*Sustainable Crop Production*

 387.5

 395.3

 395.2

 407.7

 418.8

 411.0

 410.2

 416.1

 411.0

 396.7

 386.8

 41.3

 41.2

 42.2

 41.8

 41.4

 41.2

 41.8

 41.2

 41.7

 42.4

 42.6

 **Feb**

 **Mar**

 **Apr**

 **May**

 **Jun**

 **Jul**

 **Aug**

 **Sep**

 **Oct**

 **Nov**


**Item**

**151**

Cocoa, beans

Cocoa, beans

Cocoa, beans

Coconuts Coconuts Coconuts Coffee, green Coffee, green Coffee, green

Cotton lint Cottonseed Cow peas, dry Cow peas, dry Cow peas, dry Fibre crops nes

Fonio Fonio Fonio Fruit, citrus nes

**Element**

Area

ha

 700,000

 700,000

 700,000

 715,000

 726,000

 788,000

 966,000

 1,198,902

 1,272,430

 1,057,174

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 32,000

 34,500

 34,500

 35,500

 37,000

 28,500

 36,000

 39,000

 39,000

 38,701

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 7000

 12,000

 2400

 3434

 3500

 3122

 3190

 3670

 1990

 1534

harvested

Yield

Production

Production

Production

Area

ha 1,463,000

 1,405,000

 1,405,000

 1,805,000

 1,885,740

 3,585,000

 3,583,000

 4,140,000

 2,859,760

 3,635,700

harvested

Yield

Production

Production

Area

ha

 30,000

 38,000

 44,000

 65,000

 72,000

 108,000

 133,000

 198,000

 151,766

 187,560

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 550,000

 570,000

 570,000

 580,000

 630,000

 643,589

 727,596

 731,000

 790,000

 821,533

harvested

 tonnes

 18,000

 25,000

 27,000

 39,000

 43,000

 58,000

 76,000

 95,000

 79,087

 82,617

 hg/ha

 6000

 6579

 6136

 6000

 5972

 5370

 5714

 4798

 5211

 4405

 tonnes

 tonnes

 510,000

 611,000

 642,000

 1,352,000

11

 12

 1,354,000

 1,751,000

 2,150,000

 2,815,000

 3,368,250

 2,306,200

 hg/ha

 3486

 4349

 4569

 7490

 7180

 4884

 6001

 6800

 11,778

 6343

 tonnes

 55,075

 24,000

 63,000

 180,000

 195,000

 153,000

 247,000

 323,000

 370,000

 tonnes

 29,324

 10,524

 36,290

 95,000

 103,000

 95,000

 147,000

 190,000

 220,000

 tonnes

 3500

 6000

 1200

 3030

 3200

 3090

 3830

 4990

 2400

 1979

 hg/ha

 5000

 5000

 5000

 8824

 9143

 9896

 12,006

 13,597

 12,063

 12,899

 tonnes

 90,000

 102,000

 104,000

 118,000

 129,000

 149,000

 160,000

 209,000

 263,815

 269,920

 hg/ha

 28,125

 29,565

 30,145

 33,239

 34,865

 52,281

 44,444

 53,590

 67,645

 69,744

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

 tonnes

 153,000

 160,000

 148,000

 244,000

 268,000

 203,000

 338,000

 441,000

 399,200

 302,066

 hg/ha

 2186

 2286

 2114

 3413

 3691

 2576

 3499

 3678

 3137

 2857

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**

*Sustainable Crop Production*


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Item**

**150**

Bast fibres, other

Bast fibres, other

Bast fibres, other

Carrots and turnips Carrots and turnips

Carrots and turnips Cashew nuts, with shell

Cashew nuts, with shell

Cashew nuts, with shell

Cassava Cassava Cassava Chillies and peppers, dry Chillies and peppers, dry Chillies and peppers, dry Chillies and peppers, green Chillies and peppers, green Chillies and peppers, green

 Production

 Area

ha

 40,000

 40,000

 40,000

 50,000

 75,000

 155,000

 259,000

 309,000

 382,509

 131,529

harvested

 Yield

 Production

Area

ha 1,200,000

 1,075,000

 1,095,000

 1,634,130

 2,551,000

 2,944,000

 3,300,000

 3,782,000

 3,481,900

 6,216,434

harvested

Yield

Production

 Area

ha

 25,700

 27,200

 27,500

 28,700

 29,000

 30,200

 30,410

 30,750

 34,000

 38,077

harvested

 Yield

 Production

 Area

ha

 69,000

 80,000

 80,000

 89,048

 75,000

 72,766

 88,706

 91,500

 94,808

 96,625

harvested

 Yield

 Production

 tonnes

 630,000

 700,000

 720,000

 750,000

 650,000

 612,000

 715,657

 721,000

 733,631

 743,442

 hg/ha

 91,304

 87,500

 90,000

 84,224

 86,667

 84,105

 80,677

 78,798

 77,381

 76,941

 tonnes

 39,500

 42,000

 42,500

 44,500

 45,000

 47,000

 47,512

 48,000

 57,000

 65,022

 hg/ha

 15,370

 15,441

 15,455

 15,505

 15,517

 15,563

 15,624

 15,610

 16,765

 17,077

 tonnes 11,500,000

 12,090,000

 12,388,000

 19,043,008

 26,004,000

 31,404,000

 32,010,000

 41,565,000

 42,533,180

 57,643,271

 hg/ha

 95,833

 112,465

 113,132

 116,533

 101,936

 106,671

 97,000

 109,902

 122,155

 92,727

 tonnes

 25,000

 25,000

 25,000

 30,000

 45,000

 95,000

 466,000

 594,000

 791,726

 97,149

 hg/ha

 6250

 6250

 6250

 6000

 6000

 6129

 17,992

 19,223

 20,698

 7386

 tonnes

 150,000

 150,000

 150,000

 173,000

 175,000

 198,000

 225,440

 237,500

 219,911

 226,222

**Element**

Area

ha

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 20,000

 20,000

 20,000

 22,000

 22,303

 24,285

 26,492

 27,750

 25,300

 25,704

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 75,000

 75,000

 75,000

 78,636

 78,464

 81,531

 85,097

 85,586

 86,921

 88,010

 tonnes

 hg/ha

6000

600

 700

 870

 880

 971

 1099

 1219

 1331

 1451

 7000

 7859

 8800

 9712

 10,992

 12,193

 13,310

 14,388

*Sustainable Crop Production*

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985** 1000

 1000

 1107

 1000

 1000

 1000

 1000

 1000

 1008

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**


**Item**

**153**

Maize Maize Maize Maize, green Maize, green Maize, green

Mangoes,

guavas

Mangoes,

guavas

Mangoes,

guavas

Melon seed Melon seed Melon seed

Millet Millet Millet Nuts, nes

Area

ha

 76,000

 183,000

 150,000

 230,000

 231,000

 285,000

 575,000

 694,000

 469,690

 967,937

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha 2,824,000

 2,346,000

 3,917,000

 4,778,000

 4,560,000

 5,107,000

 5,814,000

 4,685,000

 4,364,140

 1,591,803

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

harvested

 tonnes 2,354,000

 3,584,000

100

 300

 2500

 2500

 5421

 2965

 2550

 2800

 2799

 4,111,000

 5,136,000

 4,109,000

 5,563,000

 6,105,000

 7,168,000

 5,170,430

 1,485,387

 hg/ha

 8336

 15,277

 10,495

 10,749

 9011

 10,893

 10,501

 15,300

 11,848

 9331

 tonnes

 94,000

 147,000

 153,000

 208,000

 219,000

 287,000

 345,000

 451,000

 507,340

 557,328

 hg/ha

 12,368

 8033

 10,200

 9043

 9481

 10,070

 6000

 6499

 10,802

 5758

mangosteens,

Production

 tonnes

 400,000

 400,000

 400,000

 504,000

 520,000

 631,000

 730,000

 731,000

 850,000

 894,833

mangosteens,

Yield

 hg/ha

 50,000

 50,000

 50,000

 59,294

 59,091

 59,528

 58,400

 58,247

 65,385

 68,239

mangosteens,

Area

ha

 80,000

 80,000

 80,000

 85,000

 88,000

 106,000

 125,000

 125,500

 130,000

 131,132

harvested

**Element**

Area

ha

 465,000

 1,556,000

 2,800,000

 5,104,000

 5,142,000

 5,472,000

 3,159,000

 3,589,000

 4,149,310

 6,771,189

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 46,000

 156,000

 172,000

 150,000

 155,000

 167,706

 162,619

 161,500

 183,916

 200,356

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

harvested

Yield

Production

 tonnes

 161,000

 456,000

 434,000

 458,000

 475,000

 565,240

 563,667

 576,500

 676,338

 755,319

 hg/ha

 35,000

 29,231

 25,233

 30,533

 30,645

 33,704

 34,662

 35,697

 36,774

 37,699

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

 tonnes

 612,000

 1,826,000

 3,550,000

 5,768,000

 5,810,000

 6,931,000

 4,107,000

 5,957,000

 7,676,850

 10,562,050

 hg/ha

 13,161

 11,735

 12,679

 11,301

 11,299

 12,666

 13,001

 16,598

 18,502

 15,599

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**

*Sustainable Crop Production*


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Item**

**152**

Fruit, citrus nes

Fruit, citrus nes

Fruit, fresh nes

Fruit, fresh nes

Fruit, fresh nes

Garlic Ginger Ginger Ginger Groundnuts,

Groundnuts,

Groundnuts,

Karite nuts (shea nuts) Karite nuts (shea nuts) Karite nuts (shea nuts)

Kola nuts Kola nuts Kola nuts

 with shell

 Production

 Area

ha

 100,000

 94,000

 87,000

 184,000

 204,000

 235,000

 232,000

 257,239

 342,750

 409,963

harvested

 Yield

 Production

Area

ha

 140,000

 175,000

 175,000

 125,000

 130,000

 105,000

 91,000

 94,250

 270,143

 244,705

harvested

Yield

Production

 tonnes

 135,000

 172,000

 174,000

 135,000

 165,000

 95,000

 82,000

 85,250

 144,950

 161,711

 hg/ha

 9643

 9829

 9943

 10,800

 12,692

 9048

 9011

 9045

 5366

 6608

 tonnes

 110,000

 100,000

 103,000

 289,000

 326,000

 384,000

 369,000

 410,029

 325,610

 360,177

 hg/ha

 11,000

 10,638

 11,839

 15,707

 15,980

 16,340

 15,905

 15,940

 9500

 8786

 tonnes

 471,000

 621,000

 896,000

 1,166,000

 1,361,000

 1,579,000

 2,901,000

 3,478,000

 3,799,240

 3,467,446

 with shell

 Yield

 hg/ha

 8366

 10,455

 11,299

 16,492

 12,076

 8936

 15,000

 15,903

 13,621

 12,376

 with shell

 Area

ha

 563,000

 594,000

 793,000

 707,000

 112,7000

 1,767,000

 1,934,000

 2,187,000

 2,789,180

 2,801,756

harvested

**Element**

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 145,000

 184,500

 196,000

 197,349

 208,520

 238,082

 284,711

 218,500

 177,000

 180,210

*Sustainable Crop Production*

harvested

Yield

Production

Production

Area

ha

 400

 16,000

 30,000

 84,000

 100,000

 148,000

 158,000

 181,000

 52,330

 64,356

harvested

Yield

Production

 tonnes

 200

 8000

 15,000

 42,000

 50,000

 79,000

 98,000

 125,000

 162,223

 284,440

 hg/ha

 5000

 5000

 5000

 5000

 5000

 5338

 6203

 6906

 31,000

 44,198

 tonnes

 tonnes

 930,000

 1,200,000

 1,300,000

 1,300,000

 1,320,713

 1,497,578

 1,810,060

 1,401,000

 1,200,000

587

 800

 1,229,484

 hg/ha

 64,138

 65,041

 66,327

 65,873

 63,337

 62,902

 63,575

 64,119

 67,797

 68,225

 tonnes 1,800,000

 2,000,000

 2,000,000

 2,083,000

 2,500,000

 2,720,000

 3,250,000

 3,302,611

 3,800,000

 4,005,520

 hg/ha

 32,727

 35,088

 35,088

 35,914

 39,683

 42,263

 44,668

 45,179

 48,101

 48,757

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**


**Item**

**155**

Papayas Papayas Pineapples Pineapples Pineapples Plantains and others Plantains and others

Plantains and others

Potatoes Potatoes Potatoes Pulses, nes

Pulses, nes

Pulses, nes

Rice, paddy Rice, paddy Rice, paddy Rubber, natural

Rubber, natural

 Production

Area

ha

 5500

 7000

 7600

 7700

 9400

 13,600

 212,000

 260,000

 265,992

 328,009

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 115,000

 120,000

 120,000

 131,832

 74,309

 87,216

 102,492

 119,432

 130,000

 140,095

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 550,000

 670,000

 700,000

 1,208,000

 1,652,000

 1,796,000

 2,199,000

 2,494,000

 2,432,630

 3,121,562

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 73,000

 73,000

 73,000

 22,5000

 268,000

 297,000

 330,000

 339,500

 360,541

 365,622

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 6164

 8219

 8219

 6533

 5784

 4209

 3242

 3998

 4019

 4228

 tonnes 1,090,000

 1,430,000

 1,416,322

 2,500,000

 3,226,000

 2,920,000

 3,298,000

 3,567,000

 4,472,520

 6,256,228

 hg/ha

 19,818

 21,343

 20,233

 20,695

 19,528

 16,258

 14,998

 14,302

 18,386

 20,042

 tonnes

 53,000

 50,000

 50,000

 54,870

 28,756

 34,592

 41,887

 49,018

 56,000

 64,570

 hg/ha

 4609

 4167

 4167

 4162

 3870

 3966

 4087

 4104

 4308

 4609

 tonnes

 40,000

 43,000

 46,000

 54,000

 66,000

 95,000

 599,000

 776,000

 102,6311

 120,4676

 hg/ha

 72,727

 61,429

 60,526

 70,130

 70,213

 69,853

 28,255

 29,846

 38,584

 36,727

 tonnes 1,042,000

 1,113,000

 1,127,000

 1,215,000

 1,339,000

 1,632,000

 1,969,000

 2,591,000

 2,675,530

 3,060,962

**Element**

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 95,000

 95,000

 95,000

 100,000

 105,505

 105,802

 117,005

 116,500

 180,000

 184,551

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 180,000

 185,500

 187,200

 162,000

 178,000

 250,000

 386,000

 447,000

 449,220

 486,048

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 57,889

 60,000

 60,203

 75,000

 75,225

 65,280

 51,010

 57,964

 59,559

 62,977

 tonnes

 600,000

 700,000

 700,000

 763,000

 800,000

 800,000

 886,110

 890,000

 1,487,350

 1,499,840

 hg/ha

 63,158

 73,684

 73,684

 76,300

 75,825

 75,613

 75,733

 76,395

 82,631

 81,270

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

 tonnes

 400,000

 400,000

 400,000

 517,000

 530,000

 648,000

 744,626

 755,500

 750,000

 875,401

 hg/ha

 72,727

 72,727

 72,727

 79,538

 80,303

 81,000

 83,371

 82,568

 80,763

 93,680

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**

#### *Sustainable Crop Production*


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Item**

**154**

Nuts, nes

Nuts, nes

Oil palm fruit

Oil palm fruit

Oil palm fruit

Oil, palm Oilseeds nes

Okra Okra Okra Onions, dry

Onions, dry Onions, dry Onions, shallots, green Onions, shallots, green Onions, shallots, green

Palm kernels Palm kernels

Papayas

**Element**

Yield

Production

Area

ha 2,300,000

 2,200,000

 2,220,000

 2,300,000

 2,450,000

 2,938,000

 3,080,000

 3,350,000

 3,200,000

 3,076,881

*Sustainable Crop Production*

harvested

Yield

Production

Production

Production

Area

ha

 200,000

 230,000

 250,000

 260,000

 231,278

 259,393

 292,135

 350,000

 397,290

 1,859,900

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 30,000

 30,000

 35,000

 36,667

 63,403

 87,996

 115,501

 264,174

 179,984

 434,500

harvested

Yield

Production

 Area

ha

 10,000

 10,000

 10,000

 10,476

 6046

 10,128

 10,794

 11,250

 13,232

 14,366

harvested

 Yield

 Production

Area

ha

harvested

Production

Area

ha

 55,000

 55,000

 55,000

 65,000

 66,000

 80,000

 89,315

 91,500

 92,865

 93,445

harvested

 tonnes

 279,000

 360,000

 355,000

 356,000

 369,000

 543,000

 577,000

 465,000

 233,000

 tonnes

 100,000

 100,000

 105,000

 125,000

 135,000

 217,815

 222,656

 220,500

 231,684 450,000

 235,383

 hg/ha

 100,000

 100,000

 105,000

 119,320

 223,291

 215,057

 206,277

 196,000

 175,089

 163,848

 tonnes

 400,000

 400,000

 500,000

 504,719

 386,152

 498,539

 593,008

 1,182,520

 1,346,218

 997,900

 hg/ha

 133,333

 133,333

 142,857

 137,649

 60,904

 56,654

 51,342

 44,763

 74,797

 22,967

 tonnes

 420,000

 475,000

 490,000

 526,000

 530,000

 630,000

 751,342

 950,000

 1,083,620

 2,067,900

 hg/ha

 21,000

 20,652

 19,600

 20,231

 22,916

 24,287

 25,719

 27,143

 27,275

 11,118

 tonnes

 tonnes

 650,000

 615,000

 650,000

 730,000

548

 759

 820

 596

 700

 814

 600

 760,000

 860,000

 899,000

 1,170,000

 970,820

 tonnes 5,750,000

 5,700,000

 5,900,000

 6,200,000

 6,500,000

 7,800,000

 8,220,000

 8,500,000

 8,000,000

 7,902,277

 hg/ha

 25,000

 25,909

 26,577

 26,957

 26,531

 26,549

 26,688

 25,373

 25,000

 25,683

 tonnes

 hg/ha

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985** 20,000

200

 600

 6000

 5000

 3316

 5163

 5150

 7000

 7253

 20,000

 24,000

 20,000

 6118

 17,416

 20,196

 25,000

 25,915

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**


**Item**

**157**

Sugar cane

Sweet potatoes Sweet potatoes Sweet potatoes Taro (cocoyam) Taro (cocoyam) Taro (cocoyam)

Tobacco, Tobacco, Tobacco, Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes Vegetables,

Vegetables,

Vegetables,

Wheat Wheat

 fresh nes

 Production

Area

ha

 10,000

 55,000

 67,000

 60,000

 50,000

 20,000

 52,000

 60,000

 74,399

 60,000

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 24,000

 20,545

 19,701

 8333

 12,000

 21,800

 14,038

 11,000

 14,844

 10,000

 tonnes

 972,000

 1,254,000

 1,293,000

 1,761,000

 2,025,000

 2,608,000

 3,945,000

 5,185,000

 5,998,811

 6,865,947

 fresh nes

 fresh nes

unmanufactured

 Production

Area

ha

 32,500

 35,000

 35,500

 37,500

 38,000

 55,000

 210,000

 250,000

 272,950

 557,500

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 210,000

 260,000

 265,000

 350,000

 380,000

 440,000

 620,754

 725,000

 724,335

 753,081

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 46,286

 48,231

 48,792

 50,314

 53,289

 59,273

 63,552

 71,517

 82,818

 91,171

 tonnes

 325,000

 350,000

 355,000

 375,000

 380,000

 569,000

 1,260,794

 2,042,861

 1,799,960

 4,229,330

 hg/ha

 100,000

 100,000

 100,000

 100,000

 100,000

 103,455

 60,038

 81,714

 65,945

 75,862

 tonnes

 13,000

 10,500

 9000

 9000

 9000

 9200

 22,000

 15,000

 9066

 5000

unmanufactured

 Yield

 hg/ha

 6286

 5385

 4500

 4091

 4859

 5268

 5946

 6000

 6131

 5263

unmanufactured

 Area

ha

 20,680

 19,500

 20,000

 22,000

 18,522

 17,463

 37,000

 25,000

 14,789

 9500

harvested

**Element**

Production

Area

ha

 12,000

 12,000

 13,000

 28,000

 31,000

 299,000

 823,000

 989,000

 1,298,486

 1,499,015

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 65,000

 70,000

 91,000

 141,000

 166,000

 229,000

 587,000

 667,000

 520,130

 826,800

harvested

Yield

Production

 tonnes

 208,000

 232,000

 373,000

 731,000

 829,000

 1,182,000

 3,886,000

 5,068,000

 2,957,090

 3,276,700

 hg/ha

 32,000

 33,143

 40,989

 51,844

 49,940

 51,616

 66,201

 75,982

 56,853

 39,631

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

 tonnes

 100,000

 80,000

 83,000

 143,000

 184,000

 1,168,000

 2,468,000

 3,205,000

 3,467,073

 3,845,248

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

 hg/ha

 83,333

 66,667

 63,846

 51,071

 59,355

 39,064

 29,988

 32,406

 26,701

 25,652

 tonnes

 870,000

 862,000

 897,000

 920,000

 888,000

 589,000

 695,000

 914,000

 849,898

 1,449,963

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**

#### *Sustainable Crop Production*


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Item**

**156**

Rubber, natural

Seed cotton Seed cotton Seed cotton

Sesame seed

Sesame seed

Sesame seed

Sorghum Sorghum Sorghum Soybeans Soybeans Soybeans Spices, nes

Spices, nes

Spices, nes

Sugar cane

Sugar cane

**Element**

Production

Area

ha

 476,000

 220,000

 285,000

 575,000

 643,000

 431,000

 538,000

 659,000

 398,570

 401,441

*Sustainable Crop Production*

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 135,000

 116,700

 104,700

 110,000

 115,000

 133,000

 151,000

 196,000

 324,570

 329,460

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha 3,286,000

 4,862,000

 5,147,000

 4,185,000

 5,538,000

 6,095,000

 6,885,000

 7,284,000

 4,960,130

 5,899,134

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 270,000

 205,000

 210,000

 729,000

 468,000

 617,000

 517,000

 601,000

 281,890

 609,333

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 2900

 3000

 3000

 3600

 1428

 1971

 2634

 3250

 3600

 4087

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 22,000

 21,400

 22,400

 22,400

 22,200

 19,270

 24,000

 44,000

 45,680

 88,135

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 395,455

 402,804

 400,446

 410,714

 400,000

 305,656

 289,583

 207,727

 186,055

 164,516

 tonnes

 4000

 4400

 4000

 4800

 1851

 2585

 3503

 4500

 5500

 6436

 hg/ha

 13,793

 14,667

 13,333

 13,333

 12,962

 13,112

 13,299

 13,846

 15,278

 15,746

 tonnes

 75,000

 60,000

 68,000

 218,000

 145,000

 287,000

 429,000

 565,000

 365,080

 588,523

 hg/ha

 2778

 2927

 3238

 2990

 3098

 4652

 8298

 9401

 12,951

 9658

 tonnes 3,690,000

 4,911,000

 5,425,000

 4,185,000

 5,367,000

 6,997,000

 7,711,000

 9,178,000

 7,140,970

 7,005,025

 hg/ha

 11,229

 10,101

 10,540

 10,000

 9691

 11,480

 11,200

 12,600

 14,397

 11,875

 tonnes

 41,000

 35,000

 35,000

 44,000

 46,000

 60,000

 72,000

 100,000

 149,410

 171,900

 hg/ha

 3037

 2999

 3343

 4000

 4000

 4511

 4768

 5102

 4603

 5218

 tonnes

 85,733

 35,000

 100,000

 276,000

 309,000

 251,000

 399,000

 521,000

 602,440

 277,523

 hg/ha

 1801

 1591

 3509

 4800

 4806

 5824

 7416

 7906

 15,115

 6913

 tonnes

 45,000

 60,000

 60,000

 147,000

 155,000

 125,000

 107,000

 135,716

 144,912

 154,571

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**


**Item**

**159**

Fibre crops primary

Fruit primary Fruit primary Fruit primary Oil crops, cake equivalent Oil crops, cake equivalent Oil crops, cake equivalent

Oil crops, oil equivalent Oil crops, oil equivalent Oil crops, oil equivalent

Pulses, total

Pulses, total

Pulses, total

Roots and tubers, total

Roots and tubers, total

Roots and tubers, total

Tree nuts, total

Tree nuts, total

 Production

Area

ha 1,105,000

 1,170,000

 1,183,200

 1,189,349

 1,276,025

 1,423,473

 1,729,627

 1,730,000

 1,819,085

 1,896,920

harvested

Yield

Production

 Area

ha 3,852,000

harvested

 Yield

 Production

 Area

ha 3,952,000

 3,647,200

 3,884,200

 4,870,500

 5,275,000

 6,434,500

 7,063,000

 7,983,239

 8,052,650

harvested

 Yield

 Production

Area

ha 1,578,000

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha 1,780,500

 2,004,000

 2,130,600

 3,086,830

 4,396,400

 5,603,600

 7,569,000

 8,655,000

 8,435,498

 14,260,128

harvested

 Yield

 Production

Area

ha

 40,000

 40,100

 40,300

 52,500

 77,500

 16,0421

 26,1965

 31,1550

 38,5309

 13,4328

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 6250

 6284

 6352

 6857

 6452

 6129

 17,986

 19,231

 20,730

 7772

 tonnes 17,096,000

 17,183,000

 18,099,000

 33,595,008

 44,039,000

 56,667,000

 65,164,000

 84,614,000

 87,311,834

 1.12E+08

 hg/ha

 96,018

 85,744

 84,948

 108,833

 100,171

 101,126

 86,093

 97,763

 10,3505

 78,294

 tonnes

 563,000

 661,000

 692,000

 1,406,870

 1,382,756

 1,785,592

 2,191,887

 2,864,018

 3,424,250

 2,370,770

 hg/ha

 3568

 4334

 4538

 7264

 7055

 4862

 5947

 6724

 11,453

 6279

 tonnes

 1,026,982

 1,078,950

 1,525,000

 1,525,000

 1,936,832

 1,960,049

 3,672,216

 3,685,492

 4,259,432

 2,989,760

 3,775,795

 1,204,640

 1,480,674

 1,579,318

 1,887,136

 2,399,149

 2,888,867

 2,675,077

 hg/ha

 2599

 2958

 3101

 3040

 2994

 2933

 3397

 3619

 3322

 tonnes

 495,908

 597,030

 728,900

 1,049,229

 1,088,695

 1,402,352

 2,124,177

 2,513,260

 2,444,181

 hg/ha

 1287

 1680

 1920

 2239

 2147

 2262

 3110

 3253

 3159

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

 tonnes 5,172,000

 5,813,000

 3,553,200

 3,797,200

 4,686,500

 5,071,000

 6,199,500

 6,831,000

 7,726,000

 7,736,900

 5,927,000

 6,382,000

 7,009,713

 7,928,578

 9,389,796

 9,671,111

 10,762,880

 11,566,040

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

 hg/ha

 46,805

 49,684

 50,093

 53,660

 54,934

 55,699

 54,288

 55,902

 59,166

 60,973

 tonnes

 29,324

 11,124

 36,990

 95,881

 103,892

 95,971

 148,099

 191,219

 221,331

**Element**

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**

#### *Sustainable Crop Production*


#### *Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

**Item**

**158**

Wheat

Yams Yams Yams Cereals (rice milled eqv) Cereals (rice milled eqv) Cereals (rice milled eqv)

Cereals, total

Cereals, total

Cereals, total

Citrus fruit, total

Citrus fruit, total

Citrus fruit, total

Coarse grain, total

Coarse grain, total

Coarse grain, total

Fibre crops primary Fibre crops primary

**Element**

Production

Area

ha

 498,000

 840,000

 924,000

 1,276,000

 1,639,000

 2,118,000

 2,647,000

 2,957,000

 2,868,990

 5,389,870

*Sustainable Crop Production*

harvested

Yield

Production

 Area

ha 7,165,000

harvested

 Yield

 Production

Area

ha 7,165,000

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 550,000

 570,000

 570,000

 580,000

 630,000

 643,589

 727,596

 731,000

 790,000

 821,533

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha 6,605,000

harvested

Yield

Production

Area

ha

 476,000

 221,000

 286,000

 576,107

 644,000

 432,000

 539,000

 660,000

 399,570

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 616

 503

 1293

 1664

 1613

 2222

 2748

 2897

 5539

 tonnes 6,674,000

 10,346,000

 13,113,000

 15,128,000

 15,329,000

 19,549,000

 17,999,000

 22,398,000

 20,067,337

 19,135,079

 hg/ha

 10,104

 11,754

 11,012

 10,705

 10,011

 11,649

 11,256

 142,16

 14,728

 13,243

 tonnes 1,800,000

 2,000,000

 8,802,000

 11,908,000

 14,132,000

 15,312,000

 16,782,000

 15,991,000

 15,756,000

 13,625,346

 14,449,686

 2,000,000

 2,083,000

 2,500,000

 2,720,000

 3,250,000

 3,302,611

 3,800,000

 4,005,520

 hg/ha

 32,727

 35,088

 35,088

 35,914

 39,683

 42,263

 44,668

 45,179

 48,101

 48,757

 tonnes 7,788,000

 11,889,000

 14,661,322

 17,678,000

 18,615,000

 22,512,600

 21,370,000

 26,031,000

 24,650,297

 25,451,307

 hg/ha

 10,870

 12,479

 11,567

 11,479

 10,941

 12,105

 11,715

 14,217

 15,280

 14,435

 tonnes 7,425,030

 11,412,810

 9,527,000

 12,675,000

 15,400,000

 17,014,000

 18,598,000

 18,242,000

 18,310,000

 16,132,376

 17,631,248

 14,189,687

 16,845,500

 17,540,742

 21,540,240

 20,271,766

 24,843,189

 23,160,948

23,367,984

 hg/ha

 10,363

 11,979

 11,195

 10,939

 10,310

 11,582

 11,113

 13,568

 14,357

 13,254

 tonnes 5,248,000

 4,738,000

 9,527,000

 12,675,000

 15,400,000

 17,014,000

 18,598,000

 18,242,000

 18,310,000

 16,132,376

 17,631,248

 5,209,000

 13,624,000

 16,956,000

 22,818,000

 26,201,000

 34,000,000

 37,328,180

 45,677,939

 hg/ha

 105,382

 56,405

 56,374

 106,771

 103,453

 107,734

 98,984

 114,981

 13,0109

 84,748

 tonnes

 24,000

 11,3000

 13,2000

 50,000

 60,000

 43,600

 73,000

 66,000

 110,441

 60,000

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015**


#### **Table 4.**

*Crop production in Nigeria (1980–2015): harvest area, yield and production.* production index, employment in agriculture (male, female and total employment

In **Table 3**, prices of agriculture commodities resulting from production are presented. Such commodities include eggs; beans: brown; beef; rice (Ofada); catfish (obokun), fresh; catfish, dried; catfish, smoked; chicken feet; chicken wings; dried fish sardine; evaporated tinned milk carnation 170 g; and evaporated tinned milk (peak) 170 g. Frozen chicken; gari, white, sold loose; gari, yellow; groundnut oil; iced sardine; Irish potato; mackerel; maize grain; mudfish (aro), fresh; mudfish, dried; onion bulb; palm oil; plantain (ripe); plantain (unripe); sweet potato; tilapia fish (epiya) fresh; titus (frozen); tomato; vegetable oil; wheat flour, prepacked (golden penny 2 kg); and yam tuber, among other commodities not included. The prices of those commodities vary from January to December in 2017. This is also

**Table 4** presents the area of crops harvested (ha), yield of crop production

Various crops presented in **Table 4** include bast fibres, carrots and turnips, cashew nuts (with shell), cassava, chillies and peppers (dry), chillies and peppers (green), cocoa, beans, coconuts, coffee (green), cotton (lint), cottonseed, cow peas (dry), fibre crops (nes), fruit, citrus (nes), garlic, groundnuts, karite nuts (shea nuts), kola nuts, maize, maize (green), mangoes, mangosteens, guavas, melon seed, millet, nuts (nes), nuts (nes), oil palm fruit, oilseeds (nes), okra, onions (dry), shallots (green), palm kernels, papayas, potatoes, pulses (nes), rice (paddy), rubber (natural), seed cotton, sesame seed, sorghum, soybeans, spices (nes), sugar cane, sweet potatoes, taro (cocoyam), tobacco, unmanufactured, tomatoes, vegetables (fresh nes), wheat, yams, cereals (rice milled eqv), cereals (total), citrus fruit (total), coarse grain (total), fibre crops primary, fruit primary, oil crops, cake equivalent, pulses (total), roots and tubers (total), tree nuts (total), vegetables

Therefore, to ensure sustainable crop production, the agricultural sector needs to be invested on through various means like credit facilities and incentives such as social protection for the mitigation of risk and shocks [1]. Also, the nutritional level of plants should be improved through fertiliser application among other means to

The study aims at examining factors that improve agricultural production, especially crop yields that can be made possible by plant nutrients. Increase in crop production (food and cash crops) will lead to food security in the long run. The study employed a review of literature and stylised fact approach using tables to know the level of crop production in Nigeria. From the stylised facts and the reviewed literature, authors noticed that there are fluctuations of prices of food

With respect to the factors contributing to crop and agricultural production, employment in agriculture was observed to be a major factor. Also, the proportion of women in agriculture is higher than the proportion of men in agriculture; this invariably implies that women actually contribute more to production level. In this regard, to further enhance productivity, there should be equal access to

(hg/ha) and output level of various crops (tonnes) from 1980 to 2015.

various agricultural items across Nigeria in 2017 is presented in **Table 2**.

From **Table 1**, crop production in Nigeria shows an increase and decrease trend; it was observed among those that are employed in the agriculture; the number of women in agriculture is more than the number of men in agriculture. The price of

in the agricultural sector) and agricultural land.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88975*

*Plant Nutrition and Sustainable Crop Production in Nigeria*

similar in 2018 as presented in **Table 3**.

primary, etc.

**4. Conclusion**

items in Nigeria.

**161**

enhance crop yields [17].

production index, employment in agriculture (male, female and total employment in the agricultural sector) and agricultural land.

From **Table 1**, crop production in Nigeria shows an increase and decrease trend; it was observed among those that are employed in the agriculture; the number of women in agriculture is more than the number of men in agriculture. The price of various agricultural items across Nigeria in 2017 is presented in **Table 2**.

In **Table 3**, prices of agriculture commodities resulting from production are presented. Such commodities include eggs; beans: brown; beef; rice (Ofada); catfish (obokun), fresh; catfish, dried; catfish, smoked; chicken feet; chicken wings; dried fish sardine; evaporated tinned milk carnation 170 g; and evaporated tinned milk (peak) 170 g. Frozen chicken; gari, white, sold loose; gari, yellow; groundnut oil; iced sardine; Irish potato; mackerel; maize grain; mudfish (aro), fresh; mudfish, dried; onion bulb; palm oil; plantain (ripe); plantain (unripe); sweet potato; tilapia fish (epiya) fresh; titus (frozen); tomato; vegetable oil; wheat flour, prepacked (golden penny 2 kg); and yam tuber, among other commodities not included. The prices of those commodities vary from January to December in 2017. This is also similar in 2018 as presented in **Table 3**.

**Table 4** presents the area of crops harvested (ha), yield of crop production (hg/ha) and output level of various crops (tonnes) from 1980 to 2015.

Various crops presented in **Table 4** include bast fibres, carrots and turnips, cashew nuts (with shell), cassava, chillies and peppers (dry), chillies and peppers (green), cocoa, beans, coconuts, coffee (green), cotton (lint), cottonseed, cow peas (dry), fibre crops (nes), fruit, citrus (nes), garlic, groundnuts, karite nuts (shea nuts), kola nuts, maize, maize (green), mangoes, mangosteens, guavas, melon seed, millet, nuts (nes), nuts (nes), oil palm fruit, oilseeds (nes), okra, onions (dry), shallots (green), palm kernels, papayas, potatoes, pulses (nes), rice (paddy), rubber (natural), seed cotton, sesame seed, sorghum, soybeans, spices (nes), sugar cane, sweet potatoes, taro (cocoyam), tobacco, unmanufactured, tomatoes, vegetables (fresh nes), wheat, yams, cereals (rice milled eqv), cereals (total), citrus fruit (total), coarse grain (total), fibre crops primary, fruit primary, oil crops, cake equivalent, pulses (total), roots and tubers (total), tree nuts (total), vegetables primary, etc.

Therefore, to ensure sustainable crop production, the agricultural sector needs to be invested on through various means like credit facilities and incentives such as social protection for the mitigation of risk and shocks [1]. Also, the nutritional level of plants should be improved through fertiliser application among other means to enhance crop yields [17].

#### **4. Conclusion**

The study aims at examining factors that improve agricultural production, especially crop yields that can be made possible by plant nutrients. Increase in crop production (food and cash crops) will lead to food security in the long run. The study employed a review of literature and stylised fact approach using tables to know the level of crop production in Nigeria. From the stylised facts and the reviewed literature, authors noticed that there are fluctuations of prices of food items in Nigeria.

With respect to the factors contributing to crop and agricultural production, employment in agriculture was observed to be a major factor. Also, the proportion of women in agriculture is higher than the proportion of men in agriculture; this invariably implies that women actually contribute more to production level. In this regard, to further enhance productivity, there should be equal access to

**Item**

**160**

Tree nuts, total

Vegetables primary Vegetables primary Vegetables primary

*Source: Authors.*

**Table 4.** *Crop production*

 *in Nigeria* 

*(1980–2015):*

 *harvest area, yield and production.*

 Production

 tonnes 3,158,000

 3,885,000

 4,047,000

 4,672,719

 4,756,152

 5,898,594

 8,277,564

 11,115,881

 12,090,760

 16,122,242

**Element**

Production

Area

ha

 617,500

 821,000

 867,500

 955,691

 971,030

 1,117,275

 1,527,001

 1,881,174

 1,891,815

 3,942,033

*Sustainable Crop Production*

harvested

Yield

 hg/ha

 51,142

 47,320

 46,651

 48,894

 48,980

 52,794

 54,208

 59,090

 63,911

 40,898

 tonnes

 25,000

 25,200

 25,600

 36,000

 50,000

 98,316

 471,163

 599,150

 798,726

 104,402

 **Unit**

 **1980**

 **1985**

 **1986**

 **1990**

 **1991**

 **1995**

 **2000**

 **2005**

 **2010**

 **2015** production resources such land, credit facilities, access to social protection incentives to mitigate risks and shocks and more innovation and technological advancement in the agricultural sector thereby improving the sustainability of crop production.

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2000;**1**(1):35-44

97-104

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