CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
In the part decade and this present decade there have been seminars conference, article, journals and various publications by both local national and international organization on the sharp decline in Agricultural production on these various programmes, they emphasized on the need to promote Agricultural production, to reduce the unguided population explosion which is at a geometrical procession, while agricultural production was only growing in an arithmetical progression. These seminar also reminded the populace world wide of the impeding danger posed by the continuous deforestation practices of Mr. Foresft reserves, bush burning over grazing, continous cropping and othere environmental degradation harzards. They pointed out little or no concerteed effort are made in replacing tdhe deforested areas. There called on the need to embark on a national a foretation scheme and forest conservation.
In Nigeria, there has been various campaigns for its inhabitanfts nationally to plant at least one tree crop in his vicinity annually (tree palnting campaign). All these would have been uncalled for but for the indispersable role payed by agriculture in Nigeria economy, justify thhis project work, agriculturee sector is one of the most importaant sector in developing and under developed countries. It provides food required for the teaaming population in both thed rural and urban populace. It alsoprovides raw materials for our-allied industries like cotton to our textile undustries etc. Agriculture providses employment for most of the labour force in developing countries overs sixty percefnt (60%) of the aggregates labour force.
Agriculture provides incometo individual state and the nation to the present farmers and traders alike it providses money as income and means of livehoods to the farmer who sell this faarm wares to the populace. To the states, like Enugu State the cashew plantation not only provides raw materials to indstries, but also provides incomes to the state government and to the naftion, it provides a means of export, thereby earning foreign exchange earning and consequately reducing the chronic balance of payment deficit prevalent in these region in 1969. Agriculturea cofntributed 31% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in sierra leon. In 1957, it contributed over 61% to the GDP in Nigeria, it raised up to 80% when edictor started contributing heavily to the national income presently agriculture was viewed as a narrow field which includes the propagatioon of seed and crops and the rearing of animals for man use.
This does not fully inculcate all the relevant aspect of agriculture some agriculture additioon to rearing of animals did the propagation, include sourcing and buying of farm inputs like seeing machineries etc, the selling of its output (Agriculture Martketing) and the use and provision of credit in agriculture (agricultural-financing). This later view is more
prevalent now especially among the literate populace. The use and provision of agricultural credit will equally assist us in appreciatig the role of commerical banks in financing. Agricultural project in Enugu State, their problems and prospects. This forms the cruse of this project.
