Abstract

This study examined the impact of agricultural sector on economic growth in Nigeria (1981-2020). The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of agricultural sector on economic growth in Nigeria. The study used multiple regressions. The variables under consideration were real gross domestic product as the dependent variable while crop production, livestock production, forestry production and fish production are the independent variables. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique was used in estimating the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The research result Crop production and livestock production have significant impacts on economic growth in Nigeria. Forestry production and fish production have no significant impacts on economic growth in Nigeria. All the independent variables have positive relationship with economic growth in Nigeria respectively, which implies that as crop production, livestock production, forestry production, and fish production increases, real gross domestic product increase.There is no causality relationship between crop production and economic growth in Nigeria. There is no causality relationship between livestock production and economic growth in Nigeria. There is a uni-directional causality relationship flowing from forestry production to real gross domestic product, between forestry production and economic growth in Nigeria. There is no causality relationship between fish production and economic growth in Nigeria. Based on the findings of the work, the study recommends that there is the need for the Nigerian government and its citizenry to concentrate their combined efforts towards increasing the productivity capacity of the crops with the aim of promoting food security and economic growth among others.

Keywords: Agriculture sector, Economic growth, Multiple regressions, Crop production, Livestock production, Forestry production, Fish production