ABSTRACT This research work assesses the impact of agricultural policies on Nigerian economy. The study covered the key issues on Nigerian agricultural policies especially as it concerned the formulation and implementation of agricultural policies and programmes as well as their achievements in the agricultural sector in Nigeria. The study contends that government’s agricultural policies over the years in Nigeria recorded partial success going by the fact the country still face problems of food security, malnutrition and hunger, low earnings from agriculture as the GDP from agricultural sector declines. The data used in this study was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary method or sources of data collection included the use of a research instrument, (the questionnaire) and interview. Some research questions were asked as guide to the respondents in order to elicit first hand information on the subject matter. The questionnaire contained twenty eight structured questions designed in both open and close ended style. In addition, the questionnaire was validated and administered accordingly. Secondary sources of data collection on the other hand, included textbooks, journal, government documents and internet materials; the study formulated three hypotheses to guide the data analysis using simple percentage, tables, pie chart and chi-square statistical method for data analysis. The data analysis revealed that; agricultural policies are not supported with adequate data at the stage of formulation by the policy makers; there are implementation problems that affect agricultural policies and efforts in achieving their intended results; the provisions of agricultural micro-credits are still insufficient to farmers especially those in the rural areas; there are implementation leakages which divert benefits to unintended beneficiaries especially those outside agricultural dominated activities. Based on these findings, we recommended that the formulation of agricultural policies should endeavour to adequately into consideration the social, economic, political and environmental impact analysis. Also the implementation strategies should be broadened to surmount some implementation challenges that affect the achievement of goals and objectives of agricultural policies.
