Impact of agricultural policy regimes on the output of food crops in nigeria (1980 – 2015)

The study evaluated the impact of agricultural policy regimes on the output of food crops in Nigeria (1980-2015). The specific objective was to; determine the growth rate of selected crop output. Time series data were used for the study. Data used in the study were obtained from Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) crop production database for  Nigeria, covering the period 1980-2015, and was analyzed using  both descriptive and inferential statistics. Growth model was used to examine the trend in selected crop output. The study showed that the compound growth rates for all the crops were positive; cassava (4.92%), cocoa (2.61%), maize (5.84%), palm oil (2.84%) and rice (4.15%). This implies that there was a moderate increase in the output of the selected crops over the years. The compound growth rate in the output of maize among the crops considered was highest (5.84 % per annum) followed by cassava and was slow in cocoa with a compound growth rate of 2.61 % per annum. This result suggests that among the crops considered, maize is witnessing appreciable increase in production. The result specifically leads to the conclusion that output of cassava and rice had a direct influence on GDP growth in Nigeria from 1980 to 2015. The study therefore recommends that, the slow process of growth (deceleration) in the output of cassava, cocoa, maize and rice could be enhanced by the use of improved extension services and provision of input supports to the farmers involved in the cultivation of these crops.