MATHEMATICAL APPLICATION A MAJOR KEY TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NATION BUILDING: A CASE STUDY OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the effect of mathematical applications on agricultural development in Kwara state, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted. A purposive subset of the population which included farmer’s co-operative; institutes, universities and ministry of agriculture within Kwara state was utilized. The stratified random sampling technique was adopted with 20 members from four strata totaling to 100 members for the study. The structured questionnaire tagged “Investigation of Mathematical Application a major Key to Agricultural Development in Nation Building” ( IMAMKAD-NB) was the instrument for data collection adopting the four point likert scale. Data was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. Results from the study showed that basic skills in mathematics enhance agricultural production and practice; appropriate skills in measurement improve agricultural production and practice; and mathematical hybridization by plant and animal breeder’s results in improved varieties of food crops, live stock and other farm products. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the ministry of agriculture should regularly enlighten farmers on basic mathematical applications for improved performance; mathematical applications in agriculture should be inculcated into school curriculum and government should vote more fund for the purchase of agricultural farm tools scholarship for best student in agricultural science to encourage student motivation.