OILSEED CROP PRODUCTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

*Mshelia J. S¹ and A. A.Sajo²

¹Department of Agriculture, C.O.E. S & T., Bama, Borno state.

²Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola

ABSTRACT

The North-Eastern region is among the largest oilseed crop producing areas of Nigeria and oilseeds are important next only to food grains in terms of hectarage, production and value. As the country’s agricultural scenario is undergoing a rapid transformation which will lead to impressive performance in the food front by 2020,the oilseeds scenario also need to be considered to ensure increase in the domestic production in the oilseed crops on a sustainable bases. The main oilseed crops produced in the area include groundnut, sesame, soybean, sunflower and castor oil in order of their importance and those need economic development in the region. The paper looked at the increasing interest and hectarage of oilseed North-Eastern, the challenges faced by producers and proffered suggestion for sustainable production of these crops which include provision of improved extension services, subsidies on inputs, marketing services and price incentives, improved production technologies, provision of improved seeds as well as processing industries for such crops.  

Keywords: Oilseed, Sustainable, Production and Development