THE PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL HERITAGES: A PREREQUISITE FACTOR TOWARDS ECONOMIC NATIONALISM IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF NIGERIA

Abstract

A call to return to agricultural farming has been a global call on a daily basis from different countries of the world. As such it has formed a hinge for economic advancement and sustainable development in most developed countries of the world. But with the wake-up of globalization Africans especially in the South-East of Nigeria, abandoned this rich cultural heritage for non-agricultural economic advancement. Hence, the resultant effects of this, are seen in various ways ranging from loss of many cultural heritages, corruption, brain drain, loss of jobs, kidnapping, and so on. Economic nationalism here gears towards the struggle or going back to preserve the traditional agricultural system found within the SouthEast of Nigeria which has been a source of economic development to the region in the past years. And of course, improving the agricultural system already in existence through globalized mechanized farms is seen in various ways, which remains the key to economic nationalism. This research employed a culture area approach in analyzing data and found out that due to non-mechanized ways of farming and lack of proper policies by the government, it led to the abandonment of agricultural heritage that has been the center for economic development.