Access to Land and Food Security: Analysis of ‘Priority Crops’ Production in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Using Ogun State located in South-western Nigeria, this chapter draws attention to the increase in output productivity of priority crops in the State from 2003 to 2015 due to the acquisitions of over 47, 334 hectares of agricultural land across 28 communities in different Local Government Areas (LGAs). From Ogun State Agriculture Data, eight priority crops are analyzed: cassava, maize, rice, melon, yam, cocoyam, potato, and cowpea. Statistics reveal that the cultivation of cassava gives the highest average output of 4, 515, 620 metric tonnes and yield per hectare of 16.41 relative to other produce which affirms that Ogun State has the most comparative advantage in the cultivation of cassava followed by maize. The chapter further explores other pro-poor programmes directed at ensuring food security in the State.