CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Throughout human history, evidence has consistently demonstrated that economic development has its roots in agriculture. Across the world, the establishment of a sustainable economy is closely associated with the advancement of the agricultural sector. Agriculture is widely regarded as a major driving force behind the overall development of any nation. According to Ogbalubi and Wokocha (2013, p. 60), agriculture is:

A vital sector that promotes economic growth and industrial development in developing countries, while also providing significant opportunities for reducing unemployment. Consequently, the growth of this sector is essential for achieving food and nutritional security, generating income and employment, encouraging industrialization, and promoting the general economic development of a country.

The technological advancements achieved by the world's leading economies can be traced, in part, to their agricultural foundations. Although the contribution of agriculture to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has gradually declined in many countries, the sector continues to account for a substantial proportion of economic output in several nations, particularly developing countries (Ogbalubi & Wokocha, 2013, p. 60).

Development economists have consistently emphasized the central role of agriculture in the development of nations. In support of this position, Reddy, Ram, Sastry, and Devi (2009, p. 585) observe that developed countries also originated from agricultural economies and utilized the sector as a foundation for achieving industrial development. Nevertheless, perceptions of agriculture's contribution to national development have changed over time. Early development theorists placed greater emphasis on industrialization but recognized agriculture as a source of food, industrial raw materials, and labour for the expanding industrial sector. As development theories progressed, agriculture increasingly became recognized as an important component of the overall development process (Wilber & Jameson, 1992, p. 8).

The significance of agriculture to national economic development cannot be overstated. Its transformative contribution is evident in countries such as Mexico, India, and China, where the Green Revolution represents one of the major achievements of modern agricultural development. Agriculture has also played a significant role in the export-oriented economic growth of Taiwan, which experienced considerable improvements in per capita Gross National Product (GNP) (Ogbalubi & Wokocha, 2013, p. 60).

In view of these contributions, the importance of agriculture in employment generation and economic development in developing countries such as Nigeria cannot be ignored. Since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, several government policies have focused on improving food security, supplying agricultural raw materials to manufacturing industries, creating employment and income opportunities, reducing poverty, and generating substantial foreign exchange earnings through agricultural production and exports (OnlineNigeria.com, n.d.).

During the early years of Nigeria's independence, agriculture occupied a leading position in the national economy. The sector served as an important source of economic growth, wealth creation, employment opportunities, and poverty reduction. It was also the country's dominant economic activity and contributed significantly to its Gross Domestic Product. Kwanashie, Ajilima, and Garba (1998, p. 4) explain that agricultural exports served as an engine of economic growth in Nigeria before 1973, generating a considerable proportion of the revenue used by the government to develop basic infrastructure. This demonstrates that comprehensive agricultural development is an important foundation for national progress.

Similarly, Aigbokhan, as cited in Dim and Ezenekwe (2013, p. 62), states that agriculture was the dominant sector before the oil boom, contributing 63 per cent and 54 per cent of GDP during the 1950s and 1960s, respectively. Ogen (2007, p. 185) further explains that Nigeria was once the world's second-largest producer of cocoa, the largest exporter of palm kernel, and a leading producer and exporter of palm oil. The country was also a major exporter of other agricultural commodities, including cotton, groundnuts, rubber, hides, and skins.

Unfortunately, agriculture in Nigeria has experienced considerable neglect over the years, involving both government and other stakeholders. Following the discovery of oil in 1957 and the expansion of exploration and exploitation activities from the early 1960s, national attention increasingly shifted towards the wealth generated by petroleum. Obasanjo (2014) argues that agriculture was consequently neglected, contributing to the unfortunate situation in which Nigeria became dependent on imports for essential food commodities such as rice and beans.

Oni, Nkonya, Pender, Philips, and Kato (2009, p. 5) similarly observe that the emergence of oil as a major source of revenue in the early 1970s made Nigeria increasingly dependent on petroleum income, while the agricultural sector suffered adverse consequences over time. This development significantly undermined the country's pursuit of sustainable economic growth. According to Ogen (2007, p. 185), agriculture received inadequate attention during the oil boom of the 1970s, and Nigeria has continued to experience serious poverty and shortages of essential food items since that period.

Another major concern is the declining interest of young people in agricultural activities. A substantial proportion of Nigeria's farming population is ageing, while many young people prefer white-collar employment to agricultural occupations. This situation threatens the country's future food security and contributes to concerns about the increasing prices of food commodities. The limited participation of young people in agriculture therefore presents a challenge to the sustainability and expansion of agricultural production.

Nigeria consequently needs to allocate more financial resources to agricultural development rather than maintaining a relatively low level of budgetary commitment, reported in the cited source as 1.6 per cent of the national budget. While agriculture contributes to economic expansion, petroleum revenue can support the consolidation of economic gains. Olatunbosun (2014) maintains that properly developed agriculture can reduce unemployment by creating numerous employment opportunities and can make a greater contribution to domestic economic output. If Nigeria continues to earn substantial revenue from petroleum while a large proportion of its population remains in poverty, the country must take advantage of agriculture's considerable potential for promoting inclusive national development. NBF News (2014) reported that approximately 110 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line.

The importance of agriculture in poverty reduction was also emphasized in the World Bank's World Development Report 2008, titled Agriculture for Development, released on October 19. The report highlighted the need to renew attention to agriculture and observed that, for the poorest populations, economic growth originating from agriculture is approximately four times more effective in reducing poverty than growth generated outside the sector (World Bank, 2008).

With increased investment in agriculture and continued improvements in institutional and legal frameworks, Nigeria could strengthen its capacity to feed its population, export agricultural products, and provide a model for other African countries. The Nigerian government has, at different times, expressed renewed commitment to agricultural development. For example, Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria's former Minister of Agriculture, stated that the country was working towards making agriculture its new source of economic prosperity (NBF News, 2014). The Ministry of Agriculture also introduced programmes intended to promote agricultural participation, including the Youth Empowerment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, n.d.).

Similarly, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan reiterated his administration's commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector in his address marking Nigeria's 54th Independence Anniversary. He explained that efforts were being made to reposition agriculture as part of a broader strategy to diversify the national economy (NTA News, 2014). Sustained implementation of such initiatives could promote agricultural growth, reduce poverty, and strengthen the country's overall development.

However, achieving these objectives requires the active involvement of the mass media. The media have important social responsibility and agenda-setting functions, particularly in creating public awareness and mobilizing government institutions and citizens towards agricultural revitalization and national development. Through their reporting activities, the media can identify weaknesses within the system, draw attention to existing challenges, and provide opportunities for corrective action. They also facilitate public mobilization by disseminating information across geographical boundaries and reaching audiences that government communication channels may not adequately serve.

The media therefore constitute a powerful and far-reaching means of communication. Beyond reaching large audiences, they can significantly influence the political and economic conditions of a country (Biswal, 2012, p. 80). Through sustained reporting on agricultural policies, production, markets, investment, and other agribusiness-related developments, newspapers can inform the public, stimulate debate, and encourage greater attention to the agricultural sector. Examining how Nigerian newspapers covered agribusiness-related issues during 2016 and 2017 is therefore important for understanding the media's contribution to agricultural awareness and national development.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Meaningful national development is difficult to achieve when a considerable proportion of the population continues to experience severe poverty and poor living conditions. Similarly, a country cannot easily attain a high level of development when many graduates remain unemployed and agricultural production and agro-industrial activities receive insufficient encouragement. Agriculture plays a vital role in providing food, creating employment, supplying raw materials to industries, generating income, and earning foreign exchange, all of which contribute to national development.

Nigeria's development challenges make the need to strengthen agriculture particularly important. According to the World Bank Index (2012), more than 70 per cent of Nigerians were living on less than one dollar a day at the time cited. Such widespread poverty represents a serious socioeconomic challenge requiring urgent and practical intervention. High levels of criminal activities, including armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, terrorism, and other social problems, have also been associated with poverty and inadequate development opportunities.

Despite the substantial revenue Nigeria has generated from petroleum over the years, these challenges have persisted. The situation becomes even more concerning when fluctuations and declines in international oil prices reduce the revenue available to the country. These circumstances reinforce the need to explore alternative and sustainable sources of economic growth. A closer examination of Nigeria's development prospects therefore highlights the important contribution that agriculture can make towards addressing poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and other socioeconomic difficulties.

In this regard, the mass media are expected to contribute by increasing the visibility of agricultural issues and encouraging public and institutional participation in agricultural development. Through consistent and comprehensive reporting, newspapers can inform citizens about developments in agriculture, draw attention to government policies, highlight the challenges confronting farmers and agribusiness operators, and encourage stakeholders to support the sector. Nevertheless, the extent to which newspapers fulfil this responsibility cannot simply be assumed; it requires systematic investigation.

It is against this background that this study seeks to analyse agribusiness-related news reported in selected Nigerian newspapers between 2016 and 2017. The study also aims to determine the extent to which newspaper coverage may contribute to national development through the reporting of agricultural issues. Specifically, the research is guided by the following questions:

1. What is the direction of newspaper coverage of agricultural news in Nigeria?

2. How frequently do newspapers report agricultural issues?

3. How extensively do newspapers cover agricultural news in terms of depth?

4. What level of prominence do the selected newspapers give to agricultural news?

5. What frames are employed by newspapers in their coverage of agricultural news?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

Research objectives describe the intended achievements, aims, and purposes of a research investigation. Osuala (2003, p. 34) explains that objectives provide a concise overview of what a study seeks to accomplish. In line with this understanding, the objectives of this study are as follows:

1. To determine the direction of newspaper reporting on agricultural news.

2. To examine the frequency with which newspapers cover agricultural issues.

3. To assess the depth of newspaper coverage of agricultural news.

4. To establish the level of prominence accorded to agricultural news by the selected newspapers.

5. To identify the frames adopted by newspapers in reporting agricultural news.

1.4 Justification of the Study

This study is expected to benefit different segments of society by contributing to the existing body of literature on agribusiness-related news coverage and related subjects. It will also provide useful reference material for researchers, journalism students, media practitioners, and other scholars interested in investigating agricultural journalism and newspaper reporting. The findings may provide evidence that supports or challenges existing arguments and can serve as a foundation for further studies in this area.

Furthermore, the study is expected to provide government agencies and relevant institutions with information about the extent to which newspapers report agricultural issues. Such information may help agricultural policymakers assess the visibility of agricultural programmes and policies in the media. It may also offer insights into the successes and shortcomings of existing agricultural policies, particularly where media coverage draws attention to implementation challenges, achievements, and areas requiring improvement.

The study may also be useful to newspaper organisations and journalists by highlighting patterns in the frequency, depth, prominence, direction, and framing of agricultural news. These findings could encourage greater reflection on how agricultural issues are presented to the public and how newspaper reporting can contribute to informed discussions about agricultural development.

1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The population of this study comprises newspaper editions published in Nigeria during the period from 2016 to 2017. However, because of considerations relating to convenience, time, and cost, the research is restricted to four newspapers: Daily Trust, Daily Sun, The Guardian, and Vanguard. The selection of these newspapers establishes the boundaries within which the investigation will be conducted. Ohaja (2003, p. 67) explains that delimiting a study helps prevent researchers from undertaking an investigation that is too extensive or difficult to manage.

The study also faces certain limitations, particularly financial constraints, limited time, and difficulties in accessing research materials. These challenges could affect the extent of the materials available for examination and the process of conducting the research. Nevertheless, the researcher worked within the available resources and sought to overcome these difficulties in order to complete the study.

1.6 Operational Definition of Terms

Agriculture: Ugochukwu, Otegbade, Ifeonu, Okeke, and Idris (2009, p. 2) explain that the term agriculture originally referred to field cultivation and was derived from the Latin words ager and cultura. In this study, agriculture refers to the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals for human use. It is broadly understood as farming and related productive activities.

Coverage: Coverage refers to the journalistic reporting and presentation of news, events, and issues in newspapers. In the context of this research, it specifically concerns the reporting of agricultural and agribusiness-related issues by the selected Nigerian newspapers.

Newspaper: The term newspaper encompasses a wide range of publications, from large metropolitan dailies to smaller provincial newspapers (Ukonu, 2006). Ndolo (2005) defines a newspaper as a printed publication produced and distributed regularly, either daily or weekly, to a large audience. For this study, newspapers are publications that provide news reports and information about events and developments within society.