Pro-poor Rural Growth of Agricultural Food through Rural Public Library Services for the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria

Authors

Abdullahi A. Bakare, Department of Library and Information Science, College of Information and Communication Technology, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara StateFollow
Esther Temitope Olaniyi, College Library, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo StateFollow
Mosunmade Opeoluwa Oloruntola, Department of Library and Information Science, College of Information and Communication Technology, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara StateFollow

Date of this Version

2-26-2019

Abstract

The economic challenges in Nigeria make it to suffer from food insecurity which is due to low agricultural production and productivity. Specific initiatives by the Federal Government on pro-poor rural agricultural food growth to achieve SDGs to end hunger have been established. Similar structures have also been established in all the 36 States of the Federation and, in some cases, at Local Government Area level. The government is also with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and a wide array of stakeholders. Use of pro-poor rural agricultural food growth through rural public library services to achieve the goal 1 and goal 2 targets of SDGs (end poverty and hunger) is particularly the focus of this study. This paper submits that public libraries have a great role to play in the implementation of SDGs by using emerging technology, collaborating on capacity building and going into partnership with critical stakeholders to make information available to poor rural farmers. Hence, materials from the key partners of the government on information about production forecasts, increased agricultural productivity, soil composition, markets for different crops, dairy and poultry farming, farm mechanics, land use, preservation of soil, rainfall and cultivation of different types of crops, effective extension service delivery and feedback on situation for improved research and policy implementation on agriculture should be acquired by public libraries, organized, preserved and made available to rural poor to facilitate pro-poor rural agricultural food growth for the attainment of SDGs in Nigeria.