EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA: A CO-INTEGRATION ANALYSIS (1980-2019).

The study analysed the nexus between agricultural exports and economic growth in Nigeria. Time series data covering the period between 1980 and 2018 were utilized by the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Augmented Dickey-Fuller statistics, Johansen's co-integration method, and vector error correction mechanism (VECM). The results of the time series analysis revealed that the first difference of the variables is stationary and co-integrated. Descriptive analysis results reveal a fluctuating trend in the volume of agricultural exports and economic growth with an average of 351.99 tonnes and $24,200,000 respectively. The contribution of agricultural exports to economic growth declined progressively, with an average of 7.09 percent. VECM results reveal that agricultural exports volume and ratio of average world price to producer price of agricultural export commodities negatively affects economic growth. While exchange rate affects economic growth positively. The study concluded that agricultural exports, exchange rate, and the ratio of average world price to producer price of agricultural export commodities are significant determinants of economic growth in Nigeria. Thus, embarking on agricultural policy interventions that will stimulate increased agricultural export supply, stable producer prices of agricultural export commodities and a friendly macro-economic environment for agricultural exports would promote economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]