Nigeria has about 40.2 million agricultural households, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

This was disclosed at the unveiling of the National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) 2022 in Abuja on Monday.

The NBS conducted the census in partnership with the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

The report revealed that out of the 91 per cent of agricultural households that cultivated crops, 35 per cent practised only crop cultivation, while 48 per cent reported raising any livestock.

It showed that 16 per cent of the households raised 58 million cattle, while 41.2 per cent raised about 124 million goats.

“While 42.5 per cent raised poultry, most commonly chickens, while five per cent practised fisheries,” it said.

The report showed that Lagos State recorded the lowest percentage of agricultural households engaged in crop cultivation, at 48.0 per cent, while Ebonyi recorded the highest, at 99.5 per cent.

It showed the highest percentage of agricultural households engaged in livestock production was reported in Jigawa at 84.2 per cent, followed by Bauchi at 79.7 per cent .

The report said that for poultry, the highest percentage of agricultural households was recorded in Benue at 65.2 per cent, followed by Ebonyi State at 63.3 per cent.

Bishop Ohioma, assistant director of the Agricultural and Business Enterprises Statistics Department, NBS, gave an overview of the report and said the survey has two components: the listing component and the sample survey component.

Mr Ohioma said the listing component was being unveiled while the sample survey component would be unveiled in a few months.

He said the census provided a robust dataset to support agricultural intervention programmes, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

He said the NASC listing was conducted using digitised Enumeration Area (EA) maps in all 36 states and the FCT.

Mr Ohioma said 767 local government areas (LGAS) were canvassed, however, seven LGAs were not covered at the time of the census due to insecurity.

He said the uncovered LGAs were Four LGAs in Imo State and three LGAs in Borno State.

Mr Ohioma said 40 EAs were covered in each LGA, and the number of EAs covered varied by state. Both urban and rural EAs were covered.

“In all, 30,546 EAs were covered nationwide out of the proposed 30,960. ”

He said one of the report’s recommendations is that the government allocate more resources to support the conduct of the quarterly and annual National Agricultural Sample Survey (NASS).

Mr Ohioma said the report also recommended technical and financial partners to sustain support in the conduct of quarterly and annual NASS.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure the sustainability of the NASC in Nigeria,” he added.

(NAN)