INTRODUCTION
Nigeria Federal republic of Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic comprising of 36 states and its federal capital territory, Abuja. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of approximately 150 million. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; and in terms of religion, Nigeria is roughly split half and half between Muslims and Christians with a very small minority who practice traditional religion. Nigeria’s geographical location, characteristics and climate Nigeria, with a total geographical area of 923,768 square kilometers; 356,667 square meters, is located between latitudes 4ONand 14oN and longitudes 2o2’ and 14o30’ East. The nation is bordered in the north by the Republics of Niger and Chad, in the south by Atlantic Ocean, in the east and west by Republics of Cameroon and Benin respectively. The spatial extent of the country bestows on her various climatic regimes and physiographical units representing a wide variety of ecological zones. Nigeria is divided into seven agro-ecological zones. These are semi-arid, found only in the northern region; the savannah, found in the northern and middle region; a small highland area found in the middle and southern region; a larger transition environment of savannah derived from the forest overlapping the southern and middle regions; mangroves in the Niger Delta; freshwater swamps in the Niger Delta and Lowland rain forest in the south. These agro ecological zones manifest correspondingly varied environmental characteristics such as length of growing period, which for instance is 151-180 days for the northern Guinea Savanna, 181-210 days for the southern Guinea savanna and 211-270 days for the derived Savanna/coastal Savanna. The annual rainfall in these zones varies from as low as 250 mm in the extreme northeastern part to 750 mm in the southern part; in years of good and copious rainfall, average rainfall ranges between 500-1800 mm. Rainfall is largely erratic in the northern region, while the humid areas with torrential rainfalls are found in the southern part. Annual rainfall decreases northwards; 2,000 mm in the coastal zones of the Niger Delta to 500-700
mm in the North. The sub humid areas with moderate rainfalls and derived vegetation are found in the middle-belt. Climatically, Nigeria is equatorial in the south, tropical in the centre and arid in the north. Mean maximum temperature ranges from 30-32oC in the South and 33-35oC in the North. Nigeria’s terrain is varied with rugged hills, undulating slopes, gullies, water-logged areas, and flat and undulating land surfaces. Specifically, it is characterized by southern lowlands merging into central hills and plateaus; mountains in the Southeast, and plains in the North. Nigeria’s agricultural resources and potentials Nigeria has a highly diversified agro-ecological condition which makes it possible for the production of a wide range of agricultural products. Nigeria has a total land area of about 91.07 million hectares, 77% of which is cultivable (agricultural) area and 13% under forests and woodland. Of Nigeria’s estimated 74 million hectares of agricultural land as at 2005, about 39.2 million are under permanent pasture with another 3 million under permanent crops, with about 32 million hectares for arable crops. Cropping intensity is high with respect to arable land. Forestry constitutes about 11 million hectares as at 2005. In terms of employment, at least 60% of Nigeria’s population of 140 million (as at 2006) is estimated to be engaged or employed in agriculture (mainly smallholders). Women make up to 60-80 percent of agricultural workforce or labour and produce about two-thirds of food crops. Crop production, livestock (animal husbandry), fisheries and forestry (agroforestry) are the four broad systems of land use. Crop production can be broadly classified into three types of farming – rotational fallow, semipermanent or permanent cultivation (rain-fed and irrigated systems) and mixed farming. Livestock production is predominantly the pastoral type with estimated 16 million cattle, 13.5 million sheep, 26 million goats, 2.2 million pigs and 150 million poultry. Fisheries resources include a variety of fin and shell species distributed in 11.6 million hectares of inland fresh water and the brackish water of creeks and lagoons.
PLACES OF INTEREST
NATIONAL ROOT CROP RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UMUDIKE
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE, IBADAN
UDI HILLS, ENUGU
COCOA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, IKOM
NATIONAL THEATER, LAGOS
DRILL RANCH CANOPY WALK WAY, BOKI
AGBOKIM WATER FALLS
LEKKI BEACH, LAGOS
OLUMO ROCK, ABEOKUTA
NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM, UMUAHIA
OBUDU CATTLE RANCH, CALABAR
GAME VIEWING, OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK
OC Contact Olanrewaju Tunji IAAS Africa Director Chairman, LOC iaasafrica@gmail.com +2348027270945 Skype: tunngy
UKE praise Vice President Exchange vpexchange@iaasworld.org +2348064410328 Skype: praizee4ever
Akorede Taiwo IAAS Africa Secretary iaasafrica@gmail.com +2348024209291 Skype: akoredetaiwo
Ojewola Tunde Secretary, LOC tundeojewola@yahoo.com +2348060995472 Skype: tunscosnow