Abstract

Rural Communities in South Western Nigeria remains the hub of agricultural activities in terms of crop and livestock production for the populace. Numerous potentials abound in the rural areas but surprisingly, they have been grossly underutilized and these have deleterious effects on the rapid agricultural transformation of the rural areas. Prior to the Nation’s independence, agriculture was the main source of foreign exchange earner. The onset of the Civil wars of late 60’s prompted the government to look for alternative sources to prosecute the huge cost of the war. The advent of the oil boom in Nigeria in early 70’s marked the downward trend in agricultural production and rural transformation in Nigeria. Regular drifts of able bodied men and women from rural areas of the country in search of non-existent white collar-jobs further weakened and depleted the rural labour workforce. Attention of individuals and those of the government now shifted to the Urban areas particularly in areas of banking, finance, science and technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) etc to the detriment and development of rural areas for agricultural purposes. Various government initiatives all aimed at food production and self sufficiency have not yielded positive results either and contrary to the giant strides in agricultural revolution recorded in Asian and some Latin American Countries as a result of Green revolution concept of 1970s. This paper takes a cursory look at the potentials of rural communities for positive development, the concept of agricultural transformation in South Western Nigeria and the inherent benefits; and the techniques in harnessing and enhancing potentials of the rural communities. Recommendations and suggestions in the quest for the rural and agricultural transformation are suggested.