In Nigeria, most agricultural policies are aimed at______?

Analyze the question: It asks about the main goal of most agricultural policies in Nigeria. Think about what agricultural policy is directly meant to do.

Explain the concept: Agricultural policies are government measures designed to influence farming, such as input subsidies, credit schemes and research support. Nigeria's well-known programmes include:

• Operation Feed the Nation (OFN)
• Green Revolution
• Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI)
• National Special Programme for Food Security
• Agricultural Transformation Agenda
• Anchor Borrowers' Programme

The common aim of these programmes is to increase the output of food crops and livestock. The goal is for the country to feed itself, reduce food imports, and also supply raw materials to industries.

Step-by-step evaluation of options:

• A. Equitable distribution of income: This is a goal of fiscal and income policies (taxation, social welfare), not the main aim of agricultural policy.
• B. Liberalizing all sectors: Liberalization is a broad economic reform (such as the Structural Adjustment Programme), not specific to agriculture. "All sectors" is also too wide.
• C. Developing the manufacturing sector: This is an industrial policy objective. Agriculture can supply raw materials, but that is a side benefit rather than the main aim.
• D. Achieving self-sufficiency in food production: This matches the goal of nearly every Nigerian agricultural programme, which is to boost food output, cut food imports and ensure food security.

Exam tip: When a question asks about the aim of a sector's policy, choose the option that is most directly tied to that sector. For agriculture, think "food", such as food security, self-sufficiency and raising output. Options that describe broad economic reforms or other sectors are usually distractors.