Indigenous Languages as Tools for Effective Communication of Science and Technology for Food Production in Nigeria

Abstract

It is possible to assert that one of the reasons behind Nigeria's inability to break even in agricultural production is the sociolinguistic complexity of the nation. But then, some advanced nations that equally have many languages are faring better in food production. In Nigeria, taboos and wrong beliefs by farmers towards agriculture as obtained in the past are still extant. Majority of farmers find it difficult to adopt modern agro-based technologies except the few who are into large-scale farming. Based on this background, the study holds that the indigenous languages which ought to have been fully harnessed as models for effective transmission of improved agro-technologies to alter the obsolete methods and promote virile agricultural enterprise have been treated with a wave of hand. This paper therefore provides rationale and framework for latent use of our indigenous languages for integrating relevant innovations in science and technology into agriculture for sustainable development.