Umar, Elems MahmoudYusuf, Abdullahi OgwuzebeBege, Yahaya Ahmed2023-12-112023-12-112020-12-03Egbe, E. J. (2014). Rural and community development in Nigeria; An assessment. Arabian Jourii Business and Management Review, 2(2). Elekwa, N. N. (1987). Mobilisation and local participation in community development. Nigerian JotjV of Public Administration and Local Government, 5(2). t Inji, J. E. (2010). Local government and rural development in Nigeria: A case study of local governn\ in Benue State, 1999-2007. (Unpublished PhD, political science thesis) BSU, Makurdi l l 5 Su ; U* ; Esenjor, A. F. (1991). Nuts and bolts of community development, Rano, Nigeria. Nimeo: School of So and Rural Development. Frank,A.G. (1979). The development of underdevelopment. New York: N.Y. Unitary Publishers. Gana, J. (1996). A strategy for integrated rural development, Paper Presented at National Semij Lagos, Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure. Lagos, Nigeria Hall, A. & Midley, J. (1988). Community participation and development policy: A sociological perspec on development policies. York: Manchester University Press.https://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/2623The wealth which built modern Nigeria whether in the era of dominance of agricultural commodities, or petroleum, was derived from the rural areas. Given the relative importance of rural areas in Nigeria, as the major economic base, this study examines theof agricultural intervention policies/programmes on rural development in Edo State. The study adoptedmixed method using questionnaire andoral interviews. The data were analyzed using simple percentage statistical tools. Thefinding reveals that the exclusion of the rural farmers from participating in the agricultural intervention programmes is among other factors that contributed to the failure of the policy/programmes vis-a-vis underdevelopment of rural areas. Consequently, the study recommended that Government should leapfrog rural development philosophy from the present abyss to a front burner position, by constitutionalizing an extra-ministerial agency, such as the National Population Commission and Federal Civil Service Commission, among others, with specific responsibility of rural development in Nigeria.enAgriculture development, rural areas, rural development, policy initiativesProgrammesArticle