AGRICULTURAL sector value chain as pathway to poverty reduction IN NIGERIA

A value chain involves a series of actors and activities necessary to bring a product from production to the final consumer. Agricultural value chain is important in a special way because if affects the level of food security, the extern to globalization of markets and agriculture in the rural economy, thereby paving way for poverty reduction. In tracing this linkage the study noted some of the constraints/risks involved in the chain which tend to inhibit this channel of poverty reduction. These include the quality of inputs, inclement weather, pests as well as challenges of security, pricing, marketing and financing. Notwithstanding these constraints, agricultural value chain remains a veritable tool for poverty reduction especially in a developing economy like Nigeria where a significant proportion of the population is engaged in agriculture. The country should therefore invest substantially in the agricultural value chain especially at (he rurally economy level so as to benefit from the abundant potentials available for purposes of poverty reduction