Due to a great climate and global positioning, Nigeria is one of most fortunate nations when it comes to agriculture. In this way, the Nigerians have plenty of agricultural resources to explore and even to export. By effectively managing the available agricultural resources, Nigeria is also able to improve its economic status by exporting. Furthermore, the government also favors the development of cooperative societies with the purpose of encouraging the industrial agriculture because in Nigeria due to a diverse climate, it is possible the production of almost all agricultural products in the semi-tropical climate.

Agricultural sectors in Nigeria: Before the 1960′s, agriculture was the main activity in Nigeria. However, once with the development of the oil exporting industry it became necessary the import of food. In order to maximize the agricultural outcomes, other agricultural areas were developed during the last decade. In this way, the main agricultural sectors in Nigeria are the following:

Food crops: The crop production was the main agricultural activity in Nigeria for a long time and currently comprises of beans, rice, palm oil, yams, cocoa, groundnuts, melon and many other food crops that are favored due to the tropical and semi-tropical climate of this nation.

Cash crops: In this agricultural sector we may include the production of cotton, rubber, kolanut, gum Arabic, beniseed, palm kernels and many other such crops that can grow in this tropical climate.

Forests: In the case of forests, the following forest tees are available in Nigeria: abora, teak, ebony, ekki, black afara, camwood, mahogany, Nigerian walnut. This agricultural sector is an important and resourceful one in Nigeria and it contributes to economic development in the area.

Livestock: Starting with the 1970′s, a total of 11 million cattle existed and since then on the Nigerian nation has successfully enlarged its livestock production out if which 90% was found in the northern states of the nation. Nowadays, almost all rural households raise their own poultry while chickens represent the predominant poultry in the area. Apart from chickens, in Nigeria there are other animals reared such as cattle, duck, pigs, turkey, sheep, goat, pigeon, donkey and guinea fowls.

Fisheries: This agricultural sector is an important one for Nigeria and ever since the 1970′s when the domestic production of fisheries has been reaching the level of 700.000 tones on a yearly basis. Currently, the fisheries produced within the borders of Nigeria include crabs, shrimps, spade, shark, grunters, cat fish, thread fin, shiny nose and many more.

To conclude, the Nigerian agriculture offers many opportunities to reach economic development on the long run and represents one of the main activities when it comes to export, as well as the petroleum industry. Nevertheless, Nigeria is applying the appropriate solutions in the case of agricultural resource and this gives this nation a competitive advantage as compared to other emerging markets.

Tags : Agricultural Products, Agricultural Sectors, Nigerian Agriculture

Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic in West Africa. The rich historic traditions and culture of the country made a mark as one of the popular tours of travelers from other countries. The cultural and festival tours in Nigeria offer a wide variety of cultural hotspots from luxury to budgeted trips. The two major hotspots are the cities of Abuja and Lagos. These are the two important places and major centers of sightseeing in Nigeria. Some of the popular festivals of the Festival and Cultural Tours of Nigeria are:

Argungu Fishing Festival: The Argungu Festival marks the end of the fishing period and the old opposition between the Kebbi Kingdom and the Sokoto Caliphate . It is held annually from March 12 to 15 in the northwestern state of Arugungu, Kebbi. The festival began in August 1934 when Sultan Dan Mu’azu visited the place. The festival is one of the major cultural celebrations in Nigeria. A grand fishing festival was organized and joined by hundreds of local men armed with fishnets to harvest fish. There are also canoes filled with drummers. People rattle large seed-filled gourds so as to take the fish towards shallow waters.

Argungu Fishing Festival offers many fish competitions as well as canoe racing, bare handed fishing, wild duck hunting, swimming and diving competitions. The final day of the festival showcases a competition of hunting the largest fish. Winners can take home as mush as $7,500. There were also singing, dancing and drinking after the event.

Benin Festival: The Benin Festival is held at the end of every rainy season after harvesting. It is also called a harvest festival but it focuses mainly on the acquaintance of the men and women of the village. The matchmaking ceremony occurs once every four years of the wealthy families. Girls are adorned with heavy armlets and ornaments and coral beads on their hair. Boys take part in the tug-of-war game to demonstrate their strengths. Both girls and boys have paints on their bodies.

Durbar Festival: Durbar (military parade) Festival is a parade of horsemen dated back hundred of year ago. This is the time when the Emirate uses horses and invited regiments in the north during warfare. The festival is held in Katsina and Kano. It was organized in honor of Emir. A parade showcases their horsemanship as a tribute to their loyalty to the Emirate and the preparedness for war. Now, it is being celebrated as an honor for the heads of State and the end of the two Muslim festivals such as Ide-el Kabir (sacrificing a ram instead of Prophet Ibrahim’s son) and the Id-el Fitri (end of Ramadan month).

The celebration has many performances of drummers, singers, royal cavalry and wrestlers. Id-el-Kabir or Sallah Day begins with a prayer followed by a horse procession to the public square. Each district and village group takes their assigned place racing across at full gallop and swords sparkling up. Emir was the last to arrive wherein the people passes and stop to salute him raising their swords. There were lots of dancing, singing and drumming after the event with small bands performing shadi.

Sharo or Shadi Festival: Shadi (flogging meeting) Festival is about age-old initiations originated among the Jaful Fulani culture. There are bare-chested unmarried men who enter the center of the ring escorted with beautiful girls trying to frighten his opponent. Cheers and drumming are present as the challenger comes out handling a whip (belt) to flog his opponent without showing pain. Nigerian festivals were the origin of the traditional religious and cultural heritage of Nigeria. The Festival and Cultural Tours offers great celebrations and fun filled experiences of singing and dancing as well as information on the past history of Nigeria’s culture.

Tags : Cultural Tours, Nigeria Travel, Popular Festivals