AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA: 1999-2020

This study therefore examined the impact of agricultural sector on sustainable development in Nigeria from 1999 to 2020. The research design adopted in the study was the ex-post facto research design and the study was anchored on the Solow-Swan model economic model. The study analyzed the secondary data collected using the ARDL method of analysis. Study findings revealed that Agricultural output has a significant impact on the sustainable development in Nigeria within the study period. Agricultural sector employment however was observed to insignificant to sustainable development in Nigeria. It was observed from the study that government expenditure has a significant effect on sustainable development in Nigeria. While foreign exchange earnings was observed to be insignificant to sustainable development in Nigeria. Based on the study findings the study recommended that Agricultural sector must be enhanced to contribute more to the nation's output and this can be achieved through mechanized fanning. The study also recommended that government needs to provide policy supports to diverse aspect of agricultural production to increase employment opportunities. Finally, the study recommends that Government agricultural expenditure, both capital and recurrent expenditure must be judiciously directed to achieve utmost efficiency.