GRICULTURE AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA (1986-2023)

This study investigates the impact of agriculture on poverty reduction in Nigeria over the period 1986 to 2023. Despite Nigeria's rich endowment in natural and human resources, poverty remains a persistent socio-economic challenge. Given the dominance of agriculture in Nigeria’s rural economy and its potential for broad-based development, the study disaggregates agricultural output into four sub-sectors—crop production, livestock, fishery, and forestry—and examines their individual effect on poverty. Exchange rate dynamics are also included to capture macroeconomic volatility. Using secondary time series data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria and World Bank Development Indicators, the study employs the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) technique after conducting unit root and Johansen cointegration tests to ensure the reliability of the model. findings reveal that crop, livestock, and forestry outputs have a statistically significant and negative relationship with poverty, indicating their strong potential in reducing poverty. Conversely, fishery output, while negatively signed, does not show a statistically significant impact. The exchange rate is positively and significantly related to poverty, suggesting that currency depreciation worsens poverty levels by increasing the cost of living. The study concludes that agriculture remains a powerful instrument for poverty alleviation in Nigeria, particularly when sectoral investment is targeted and supported by stable macroeconomic policies. It recommends increased funding for crop and livestock farming, sustainable forestry practices, revitalization of the fisheries sector, and proactive exchange rate management as critical measures for improving the welfare of Nigeria’s poor