IOSR-JAVS   Volume-2 ~ Issue-2 ~ Jan-Feb-2013

ABSTRACT:Eighty day old mixed breed and indigenous turkey poults were investigated to analyse the influence of feeding Palm kernel cake (PKC) diet on haematology and blood chemistry. The diets were 1, 2, 3, and 4 containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% inclusion levels of PKC in the starter phase. The blood samples were obtained from the control and treatment turkeys at the end of the exposure period. While haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total protein, albumin, globulin and alanine amino transferase showed no significant differences (P> 0.05) among the diets, aspartate amino transferase (AST), cholesterol and total red blood cells (RBC) showed significant differences (P<0.05) across the diets. Provided the dietary requirements are met, PKC can be incorporated up to a level of 30% in turkey rations without adverse effects on their health.
Key words: Turkey poults, Palm kernel cake, Blood chemistry. Meleagris gallopavo

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Jain Lippin cotts, Williams and Wilkisin, Phildelphia,Pp. 1147-1154.
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Publishing, Florida. Pp 223-245
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ABSTRACT:The effect of plumage modifier genes on some internal and external egg quality indices in the Nigerian local chicken in the guinea savanna was evaluated. The frizzle (ff) and naked neck (Na) local birds had a significantly (p<0.05) higher egg weight than the normal feathered birds (na). Mean egg weights were 33.29 0.27, 36.16 0.20 and 43.15 0.21 in the na, ff and Na genetic groups respectively. The frizzle and naked neck genes positively increased egg weights by 8.62 and 29.62 per cent over the normal feather gene. However, egg shape index significantly (p<0.05) favoured the normal feathered birds over the other two genetic groups of the Nigerian local chicken studied. Similarly, shell thickness was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the ff and Na birds than in the na. Consequently, the modifier genes of frizzling and naked neck are relevant in the development of a layer breed for the local environment.

[1] Badubi, S.S., Rakereng, M. and Marumo, M., (2006): Morphological characteristics and feed resources available for indigenous
chickens in Botswana. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. 18(1),
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[3] Egahi, J.O; N.I. Dim, O.M. Momoh and D.S. Gwaza (2010).Variations in Qualitative Traits in the Nigerian Local Chicken.
International Journal of Poultry Science 9 (10): 978-979, 2010
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of the local chicken in South Western Nigeria. Nig. J. Genet.,11. pp55-60.
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breeding. Unpublished Thesis for Award of PhD Degree at Sokoine University of Agriculture.
[6] Mathur, P.K. (2003). genotypes-environment interactions: Problems associated with selection for increased production. In Muir
W.M. and Aggrey, S.E (Eds). Poultry. Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, CABI Publishing 2003.
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International Journal of Poultry Science 2 (4). pp. 261-263.
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Nigerian local chicken as influenced by some major genes. Nig. J. Anim. Prod. 2007, 34(1). pp.25-31
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egg. Ind.J. Poult.Sc. 14. pp.26:31

ABSTRACT:Seasonal incidence of insect pests of soybean will be recorded from field during kharif 2010.Soybean variety JS-93-05 will be sown on 3th July 2010. In this experiment numbers of plants infested by girdle beetle and the number of caterpillar pests and natural enemies will be counted from ten randomly selected places (in one meter row-length ). to record the observations on sucking pests, insect population will be recorded from randomly selected twenty plants on which five leaves taken three from upper and two from bottom in each at ten days interval.
Key words: bio agents, girdle beetle, Population dynamics,seasonal incidence, soybean eco system,lepidopteran, sucking pest) 1. Student of M.Sc.(Ag), Department of Entomology 2. Professor, Department of Entomology

[1] Didonet, J., Fragoso, D. B., Peluzio, J.M and Santos, G.R. (2003). Population dynamics of soybean pests and their natural enemies in Rio Formoso Project - Formoso do Araguaia - TO, Brazil. Acta Amazonica. 28(1): 67-74.
[2] Feng, Hongqiang., Fred Gould., Yunxin Huang., Yuying Jiang and Kongming Wu. (2010). Modeling the Population Dynamics of
Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa Armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) over a Wide Area in Northern China. Ecological
Modelling. 221(15): 1819-1830.
[3] Gangrade, G.A. (1976) Terminal Technical Report on The Project "Assessment of effects on yield and quality of soybean caused by
major arthropod pests", Deptt. of Ent. , J. N. Agril., univ. , Jabalpur, 143 pp.
[4] Joshi, M.D. and Patel, V.N. (2010). Seasonal Incidence of Leaf Miner Aproaerema modicella Deventer on Soybean. Agril. Sci. Dig.
30(3):236-239.
[5] Mohamed, A. A., Abdel-Moniem, A. S. H. S. and Mahmoud, O. (2009). Determination of Resistance Status of Experimental
Soybeans to the Lima Bean Pod Borer, Etiella zinckenella Treitschke and the Whitefly, bemisia tabaci Gennadius at El-Dakhla Oases,
New Valley, Egypt. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 42(6): 552-558.
[6] Patil, R.H. (2002). Evaluation of insect pest management components in soybean eco system. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Agric. Sci.,
Dharwad, p. 166.
[7] Singh, O.P., Singh, K.J and Singh, P.P. (2000). Effect of different varieties of soybean and their plant population on the incidence of
grey semilooper, Rivula sp in Madhya pradesh. Bharatiya Krishi Anusandhana Patrika, 4(3): 149-153.
[8] Van den Berg, H., Aziz, A. and Machrus, M. (2000) On-farm Evaluation of Measures to Monitor and Control Soybean Pod-borer
Etiella Zinckenella in East Java, Indonesia. International Journal of Pest Management, 46(3):219-224.

ABSTRACT:field experiment was conducted at Research Field of Department of Soil Science, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh to study the performance of ten improved varieties of tomato (CLN3125A, CLN3125E, CLN3125L, CLN3125O, CLN3125P, CLN3125Q, CLN3070J, CLN3078A, CLN3078C, CLN3078G) of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre, Taiwan and five varieties (BARI-3, BARI-8, BARI-9, BARI-14, BARI-15) released by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydevpur. It was observed that plant height, number of branches and number of leaves varied from 50 to 80 cm, 8 to 19 and 112 to 282 at 30 days after transplantation (DAT) and 64 to 100 cm, 19 to 29 and 307 to 612 at 45 DAT, respectively. The number of fruits plant-1 ranged from 19 to 52 and single fruit weight of tomato varied from 35.04 g to 72.05 g. The yield of tomato varied from 36.36 ton ha-1 to 122.21 ton ha-1 among the varieties. Results further depicted that in respect of yield and quality, CLN3125P was found to be the best suitable and promising variety for growing in the valley soil of Chittagong. Similar result was found with CLN3125E, CLN3125L CLN3078J and BARI tomato 15. Results enumerated that quality of tomato varieties in terms of total soluble sugar, reducing sugar and non reducing sugar, vitamin C and nutrient minerals also showed significant variations.
Key words: Plant height, yield, total soluble sugar, vitamin C, nutrient content.

[1] N. K. Halder, M. K. Saha, A. H. M. F. Kabir, J. U. Sarker and M. J. Rahman, Response of summer tomato to hormone and
planting time at hill slope, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 6(2), 2003, 146-148.
[2] S. M Saheed, Status of Human-Induced Soil Degradation in Bangladesh. Country Report, Expert Consultation of the Asian
Network on Problem Soils, 1995, FAO, Manila, Philippines.
[3] BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council), Fertilizer Recommendation Guide (Dhaka, BARC Soils Publication No.45,
2005)
[4] P. R. Day, Particle fractionation and particle size analysis, in C. A. Black (Ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Part I. Agronomy
Monograph, (New York: Academic Press, 1965) 545-567.
[5] A. Walkley and I. A. Black, An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining organic carbon in soils: Effect of variations
in digestion conditions and of inorganic soil constituents, Soil Science, 63, 1934, 251-263.
[6] M L. Jackson, Soil Chemical Analysis (New Delhi, Prentice Hall of India Private Limited, 1973).
[7] S. Olsen, C. Cole, F. Watanabe and L. Dean, Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate
(USDA Circular No. 939, US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1954).
[8] M. Shahnawaz, S. A. Sheikh and S. M. Nizamani, Determination of Nutritive Values of Jamun Fruit (Eugenia jambolana) Products,
Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8(8), 2009, 1275-1280.
[9] V. A. Jideani and F. C. Onwubali, Optimization of wheat-sprouted soybean flour bread using response surface methodology,
African Journal of Biotechnology, 8 (2), 2009, 6364-6373.
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ABSTRACT:The article describes an innovative approach to the reduction of GHG into the atmosphere by using acidolactic feed additive Vavigram-Fortissimo in animal rations. This feed additive regulates the digestion system, enabling it to reduce the intermediate organic compounds in manure. This feed additive also enables the waterless utilization of the manure into perfect quality bio humus. Experimental data of the usage of the Vavigram-Fortissimo in pig and chicken rations shows the reduction of GHG into the atmosphere by at least 20%. The article also suggests an innovative new farming method that will not only result in GHG reduction but also has the potential to eliminate hunger in Third World countries.
Key words: additive, acidolactic, bio humus, feed, manure, ration, utilization, waterless

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ABSTRACT:Efforts made in the present investigation to evaluate few commonly used fungicides for their comparative efficacy against Phytophthora infestans (Mont.)de Bary- the incitant of late bight, with a view to select the most effective fungicide for the management of the disease. Among the seven fungicides, two fungicides namely Cymoxanil 8% + Mancozeb 64% and Dimethomorph 50% were found most effective in pot evaluation which could reduce the disease to an extent of 99.98% and 99.95%, respectively when applied before appearance of disease. The same fungicides could protect 99.84% and 99.69% of the crop when applied after 1% appearance of the disease
Key words: Potato, late blight, cymoxanil, metalaxyl resistance

[1] Gupta, V.K.; Joseph, T.A. and Srivastava, A.K. (2009). Potato varieties popular in the North – eastern Region Potato in North East.
[2] Bhattacharya, S.K.; Shekhawat, G.S. and Singh, B.P. (1990). Potato late blight. Tech. Bull. No. 27, C.P.R.I., Shimla, 40 PP.
[3] Grayson, B.T.; Batten, D.M. and Walter, D. (1995). Adjuvant Effects on the therapeutic Control of Potato Late Blight by
Dimethomorph Wettable Powder formulations. Pest Management Science 46(4): 355-359.
[4] Johnson, D.A.; Cummings, T.F. and Hamm, P.B. (2000). Cost of fungicides used to manage potato late blight in the Columbia
Basin: 1996 to 1998. Plant Dis. 84: 399-402.
[5] Ali, M.S. and Dey, T.K. (1999). Management of late blight in Bangladesh. In : Late blight: A threat to global food security. Proc. of
Global initiative on Late Blight Conf. March 16-19, 1999. Vol. 1.
[6] Singh, P.H.; Singh, B. P.; Singh, L. and Gupta, J. (2005). Comparative aggressiveness of Metalaxyl resistant and sensitive isolates
of Phytophthora infestans. Potato J. 32 (1-2): 61- 65.
[7] Clayton R.C. and Shattock R.C. (1995). Reduced fungicide inputs to control Phytophthora infestans in potato cultivars with high
levels of polygenic resistance. Potato Research 38: 399–405.
[8] Fontem, D.A. (2001). Influence of rate and frequency of Ridomil Plus applications on late blight severity and potato yields in
Cameroon. African Crop Science J. 9(1): 235-243.
[9] Kassa, B. and Buyene, H. (2001). Efficacy and economics of fungicide spray in the control of late blight in Ethiopia. African Crop
Science J. 9: (1): 245-250.
[10] Kirk, W.W.; Felcher, K.J.; Douches, D.S.; Coombs, J.M.; Stein, J.M.; Baker, K.M. and Hammerschmidt, R. (2001). Effect of host
plant resistance and reduced rates and frequencies of fungicide application to control potato late blight. Plant Dis. 85: 1113–1118.

ABSTRACT:Agricultural extension is designed to increase farmers' productivity and well-being through the adoption of improved agricultural extension technological recommendations. Against this background, the study was conducted to determine the effect of adoption of agricultural extension recommendations on the resourcepoor farmers' income from yam. In conducting the study, 180 yam farmers from Cross River State were randomly selected through multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. The data collected were analyzed using linear correlation and regression analysis at 5% level. The study showed that agricultural extension through farmers' adoption of technological recommendations significantly increased farmers' income from yam. The null hypothesis that agricultural extension does not increase farmers' income from yam significantly was rejected, while the alternative hypothesis was accepted.
Key words: Evaluation, Effect, Extension-Delivery, Resource-poor, income, farmers, Yam.

[1] Agbarevo, M. N., 2007. Enhancing adoptions of agricultural extension technological packages within the contextual framework of
participation, group extension and farming systems research. Journal of Research in Agriculture 4 (4) 1-6.
[2] Bakare, S. O., Ukwungwu, M. N., Fademi, A. O., Harris, D and Ochigbo, A. (2004). Adoption study of seed priming technology in
upland rice in O. O. Agbede, M. B. Idris, S. A. Rahman, M..M. Ari, I. M. Ogara and G. N. Asumugha,( eds.). Mobilizing Investors
for Sustainable Agricultural Research Development and Production in Nigeria ─Proceedings of the 28th Agric Society of Nigeria.
Held at the College of Agric. Nasarawa State. October 17-21, 2004.
[3] Ehirim, N. C., 2005. Economic impact of common agronomic practices associated with risk control in cassava production in
Owerri., in A. M. Orheruata et al. (eds.). Agricultural Rebirth for Improved Production in Nigeria. Proceedings of 39th Annual
Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria. Held at University of Benin, Benin City, October 9th-13th 2005.
[4] Eke-Okoro, C. N., 2004. Optimum rate of new compound fertilizer for cassava production in south eastern Nigeria. Journal of
Research in Agriculture 4 (1): 23-26.
[5] Emeson, R. A and Nwabu, G., 2006. Effects of agricultural extension on farm yields in Kenya. Center Discussion Paper, No 798.
Yale University Economic Growth Center, New Haven Connecticut.
[6] Farm and Infrastructural Foundation, 2007. New Agric. Digest. FIF Press, Abuja.
[7] Kaine, G., 2004. Consumer behavior as a theory of innovation adoption in agriculture. Understanding Adoption of Precision
Agriculture Technologies. APEN International Conference.
[8] Nwosu, C. S., 2005. Comparative economics of resource use by ADP and non-ADP contact farmers in Orlu Agricultural Zone of
Imo State, Nigeria in A. M. Orheruata et al. (eds). Agricultural Rebirth for Improved production in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 39th
Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria. Held at the University of Benin City, Nigeria. October, 2005.

ABSTRACT:Fungal milk-clotting enzymes are as valuable as bovine Chymosin in the cheese industry. Members of the Mucoraceae family, have important biotechnological potential as some species are enzyme producers at industrial scale. In this study, 31 isolates of thermophilic Phycomycetes of different taxa were selected from different sample sites and were studied for their aspartic protease producing capabilities. For primary isolation, modified Warcup method using improved Phycomycetes selective solid media along with high temperature selective for thermophilic Mucorals were applied. The purpose of this study was to collect the local biotechnologically important strains of thermophilic phycomycetes capable of producing rennin-like proteases. Based on a high relative enzyme activity (REA), the majority (83.7%) of the 31 species of isolated thermophilic Phycomycetes were selected for next isolation steps. By trial production of acid proteases using shake flask fermentation, Milk clotting activity (MCA), and Protease activity (PA) of each fermentation broth of primary isolates were measured. Later, based on their high MCA/PA ratio, three isolates were chosen for macroscopic and microscopic examinations of each isolate determining their taxonomy identification and classification. The results showed that two of final isolates (HPA-01 and ZDO-16) belong to Rhizomucor family (R. nainitalensis and R. pusillus) and the third thermophilic Zygomycetes (ZDP-03) is a Rhizopus (R. rhizopodiformis). Of the 3 isolates, Rhizomucor nainitalensis was chosen for further studies and could be introduced as a commercially important isolate in future.
Key words: aspartic proteases, isolation, Phycomycetes, thermophilic fungi

[1] Ekstrand B, Larsson-Raznikiewicz M, Perlmann C. (1980): Casein micelle size and composition related to the enzymatic
coagulation process. Biochim Biophys Acta, 630(3), 361-366.
[2] Visser S, Van Rooijen PJ, Schattenkerk C, Kerling KE. (1976): Peptide substrates for chymosin (rennin). Kinetic studies with
peptides of different chain length including parts of the sequence 101-112 of bovine k-casein. Biochim Biophys Acta, 438(1), 265-272.
[3] Hsieh JF, Pan PH. (2012): Proteomic profiling of the coagulation of milk proteins induced by chymosin. J Agric Food Chem,
60(8), 2039-2045.
[4] Bailey MJ, Siika-aho M. (1988): Production of microbial rennin. Biotechnol Lett, 10(3), 161-166.
[5] Kumar A, Grover S, Sharma J, Batish VK. (2010): Chymosin and other milk coagulants: sources and biotechnological
interventions. Crit Rev Biotechnol, 30(4), 243-258.
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143-148.
[10] JACOB M, JA

ABSTRACT:Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosisis a facultative, rod shaped, gram-positive bacteria which is a causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). CLA is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease that is characterized by the formation of abscesses typically located in superficial lymph nodes and lungs. Difficulties in early diagnosis of CLA infected animals have limited the effectiveness of controlling and eradicating this disease. The aim of the present study was to acquire a better way of understanding the pathogenesis of CLA via oral route infection in mouse model. A total of sixteen healthy mice (n=16) were divided equally into 2 groups, where the first group of mice were orally inoculated with 1.0 mL of sterile phosphate buffer solution (PBS), pH 7, and the second group of mice were orally inoculated with 1.0 mL of 109 colony forming unit (cfu) of C. pseudotuberculosis. Clinical signs and histopathological changes in visceral organs were compared between the diseased and non-diseased group within the period of 120 hours of post inoculation. Results of this study showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) changes in clinical signs observed between diseased and nondiseased group. However, there were significant (P<0.05) histopathological changes observed in the visceral organs( lung, liver and kidney) between diseased and non-diseased group where the visceral organs had severe congestion and increased vascularization, micro-abscesses formation, infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, tubercular granulomas, necrosis and early signs of degeneration as compared to the nondiseased group.
Key words: C. pseudotuberculosis, caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), mice, clinical response, cellular changes

[1] Williamson, L.H. Caseous lymphadenitis in small ruminants. Veterinary Clinics of North America-Food Animal Practice, 17, 2001,
359-371.
[2] Binns, S.H., Bailey,M. andGreen, L. E. Postal survey of ovine caseous lymphadenitis in the United Kingdom between 1990
and1999.Veterinary Record, 150, 2002, 263-268.
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[4] Batey R.G. Pathogenesis of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goats. Australian Veterinary Journal, 63, 1986. 269-272.
[5] Paton, M. W., Rose, I. R., Hart, R. A., Sutherland, S. S., Mercy, A. R., Ellis, T. M. and Dhaliwal, J. A. New infection with
Corynebacteriumpseudotuberculosis reduces wool production. Australian Veterinary Journal, 71, 1994, 47-49.
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carcass condemnation from maedi-visna, paratuberculosisandcaseous lymphadenitis in culled sheep from Quebec, Canada.
PreventiveVeterinary Medicine, 59, 2003, 67-81.
[7] Chan C.M. and Line S. The Merck Veterinary Manual.Merck Sharp &Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station NJ, USA, 2005.
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[10] Pekelder, J.J. Caseouslymphdenitis. En. In: Martin, W.B., Aitken, I.D. (Eds.), Diseases of Sheep, third ed. Blackwell Science, pp.,
2000, 270–274.

ABSTRACT:Organic materials bring many benefits to plant growth and yield performances in crop production. The objective of this study was to know the performance of maize plant from germination period to maturity period under sandy soil condition manage with different organic materials, on weekly basis. The experiment was initiated under poor sandy-soil site, just 5 km away from the Argungu town, Kebbi State Nigeria, located within latitude 12° 24"N and longitude 4° '12"E. The study confirms the assumption that crop plant is very likely to perform better under poor sandy-soil condition if sustainable management requirements are provided. Plant growth and yield performances were observed positively well in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seven and tenth week after germination. It is concluded that sandy soil managed with organic materials provides good soil atmosphere for maize plant growth in crop production. Likewise, the results suggested that crop grown under sandy soil managed with organic materials perform better in term of plant growth and yield performances.

[1] B. Jeffrey, Fact Sheet: Why Soil Organic Matter matters. Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Balance in Agricultural Lands. Land and Water
and Sustainable Agriculture Flagship. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2008).
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organic management. Soil and Tillage Research, 2002, 101, (1-2), 89-96.
[3] H. Janssen, and R. van der Weert, The influence of fertilizers, soil organic matter and soil compaction on maize yields on the
Surinam 'Zanderij' soils. Plant and Soil, 1977, 46:2, 445 – 458.
[4] Vanlauwe, K. Aihou, S. Aman, E. N. O. Iwuafor, B. K. Tossah, J. Diels, N. Sanginga, O. Lyasse, R. Merckx, and J. Decker, Maize
Yield as Affected by Organic Inputs and Urea in the West African Moist Savanna. Agronomy Journal, 2001, 93: 6, 1191-1199.
[5] McDonald, Soil organic matter, (The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Hobart, Tasmania,
Australia, 2010).
[6] F. Caires, H. A. W. Joris, S. and Churka, Long-term effects of lime and gypsum additions on no-till corn and soybean yield and soil
chemical properties in southern Brazil. Soil Use and Management, 2011, 27, 45–53.
[7] FAO, Guidelines for Soil Descriptions 5th ed. (FAO, Rome, Italy, 2006).
[8] FAO, The importance of soil organic matter: key to drought-resistant soil and sustained food production: FAO Soil Bulletin.
(Natural Resources Management and Environment Department, FAO. 94 pp, 2005).
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[10] J. van Etten, and de Bruin, Regional

ABSTRACT: The average daily gains (ADG) were found to be 510.3 and 511.8 g/day, respectively on ration 1 and 2 and were non significant. The DM intake per kg live weight gain (kg) was 7.47 and 7.59 recorded with ration 1 and 2, respectively. The voluntary daily feed intake (kg) of 3.25 and 3.43 per 100 kg body weight was observed with ration 1 and 2, respectively. Supplementation of mulberry hay as mixed fodder decreased the digestibilities of DM, OM, CF (P<0.01) and an increased digestibility of CP (P<0.05). No significant difference in the digestibilities of EE and NFE were observed among the two rations. Based on the results, this study revealed that mulberry hay was palatable, improved the nutrient utilization of straw rations and could be safely supplemented at 50% level, as leguminous component of the diet and feed cost can be reduced by saving 0.66 kg of concentrate per animal per day in growing crossbred calves.
Key words: Mulberry hay, Sorghum straw, Nutrient utilisation, Growth rate, Crossbred calves

[1] F.A.O, 2010, Food and Agricultural Organisation, Rome, Italy.
[2] K.T. Sampath, K.S.Ramachandra, and S. Anandan, Livestock feed and fodder resources of India and strategies for their
judicious utilisation- A review. Indian Journal of Animal Science, 75 (12), 2005, 1438-1443.
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ABSTRACT: This paper examines Agricultural Development and employment generation with particular reference to Nigeria. The paper acknowledged the important role agriculture plays in developing countries such as Nigeria not only in employment generation but also for overall economic growth. It showcases the agriculture sector as the most critical and basic sector that has significant potentials for the transformation of the Nigerian economy. It provides the overview of agricultural development in Nigeria and also provides a framework for understanding the agricultural sector in relation to the strategies employed by government to develop the sector.The paper further acknowledged that although most public policies in Nigeria have been tailored towards food security, supply of agricultural raw materials needed by the manufacturing sector to provide adequate employment and income.However, the potential of the sector is yet to be maximised. In assessing the growth of agricultural sector in Nigeria and impact in employment, data were obtained from Central bank of Nigeria and Federal Office of Statistics. This paper also identifies some major factors constraining the development of agricultural sector in Nigeria such as neglect of agriculture arising from the discovery of oil, inadequate infrastructural facilities, inadequate extension services, shortage of labour to rural- urban migration, decline quality of land because of oil activities in the Niger Delta Region, Policy inconsistency etc. The paper recommends the provision of credit facilities to farmers, extension services, price stabilization and making agriculture a priority e.tc to ensure that the sector takes its rightful place in our economy.

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