ABSTRACT

The study examined the impact of agricultural output on economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1980 to 2016 using secondary time series data to conduct an empirical investigation. A multiple linear regression model was estimated using the OLS estimation technique and the study revealed that agricultural sector plays a significant role on economic growth in Nigeria and as such recommended that government should encourage agricultural activities as it will help reduce poverty and increase economic growth in Nigeria. It is thus concluded that agricultural output is a significant determinant of economic growth in Nigeria… Agricultural output has a positive and statistically significant effect of economic growth in Nigeria as such improvement in agriculture will bring about increase in economic growth. Commercial banks credit to agricultural sector is positive and statistically significant to economic growth in Nigeria thus while increase in commercial banks loan to agricultural sector will improve economic growth, such growth is insignificant. Government expenditure is a positive and significant determinate of economic growth in Nigeria for the period understudy. Thus as government expenditure on agriculture increases, economic growth also increases significantly.