The Nigerian labor force, like that of many countries in Africa, is heavily
concentrated in agriculture. The sector employs about 60 percent of the labor force and
contributes over 40 percent to GDP. Despite its importance, the agricultural sector in Nigeria is
far from reaching its full potential. The agricultural sector has the highest poverty incidence in
the country (Phillip et al., 2009); to reduce poverty, it is critical for households to earn more from
their income generating activities. The World Development Report (WDR, 2008) emphasized
the importance of agriculture for poverty reduction and growth in Africa. Improving the
agricultural sector in Nigeria is vital to increasing food security and reducing poverty, especially
in rural areas. Most farming in the country is still done at the subsistence level with minimal
commercialization.