Promoting Agritourism for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Irrigation farming has increased in Nigeria in the recent times. In northern Nigeria, Irrigated farming is changing the livelihoods of farmers in rural community. The possible reason for this is the increased awareness from the Fadama project jointly funded by World Bank, Federal Government and State Governments. This work was carried out to assess the agrotourism potential of irrigation farming (agriculture) for food security and sustainable development in Nigeria. Before the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria, agriculture has been the backbone of the economy. Furthermore, agriculture was found to be capable of alleviating poverty because it provides income among farming households (they were able to live above US Sl/day/person which is the threshold for poverty level), Hence a duo of irrigation agriculture and tourism can be used to achieve the MDGs for reducing poverty and hunger.