In recent times, agriculture in Nigeria tends to lose its vital labour force as a result of?

1. Analyze the question The question asks why agriculture in Nigeria is losing its labour force (workers), especially in recent times. We need the factor that directly pulls workers out of farming.

2. Explain the concept Rural-urban drift (rural-urban migration) is the movement of people, mostly young and able-bodied, from villages to towns and cities. Most Nigerian farming is done in rural areas, so when young people leave for the cities in search of white-collar jobs, better pay, electricity, schools, hospitals and other amenities, farms are left with older people and fewer workers.

3. Step-by-step solution

• A. Lack of an effective agricultural policy: This can hurt agriculture generally, but it does not directly explain why labour leaves.
• B. Employment opportunities in the agricultural sector: If there were more jobs in agriculture, workers would be attracted to it, not lost from it. This contradicts the question.
• C. Rural-urban drift: Farmers and farm workers move to urban centres, which directly reduces the agricultural labour force. This fits.
• D. Low prices of agricultural products: This reduces farmers' income and may discourage farming, but it is an indirect cause. The more direct and widely cited reason for labour loss is migration to cities.

4. Answer The correct option is C. rural-urban drift.

5. Exam tip When a question asks about loss of labour from agriculture, think "migration." Remember: Rural-urban drift = farms lose hands, cities gain crowds. Also watch for options like B that say the opposite of what the question implies.