Abstract: The contributions of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) to rural livelihood and food security in Nigeria were extensively reviewed. The genesis and historical development of the ADP system were presented. It was noted that the Agricultural Development Project (ADP) via the Training and Visit (T and V) system started with the growth from the first three enclave projects at Funtua, Gusau and Gombe which were started in 1975/76 as enclave ADPs. Other generation of ADPs were identified as the Accelerated Development Area Programme (ADAP), phased ADPs and state-wide ADPs respectively. The critical mandate/objective of the ADPs is to boost agricultural production as well as contribute to rural livelihood and food security. In order to achieve this goal, the programme implementation strategies of the ADPs were identified to include a re-organised and revitalized agricultural extension system, an effective farm input distribution system, on autonomous ADP management unit, a rigorous monitoring system and a joint state/federal responsibility. In addition, the components of the ADPs which constitute the vehicle for achievement of her objectives are crop production, on-farm adaptive research, farm input distribution, farmer training, media support, infrastructural development, rural agro-industrial scheme, staff development and programme funding. The ADP system was noted to have made remarkable success in the agricultural and rural landscape in Nigeria. The achievements and impact of the ADPs were identified to be in the area of revitalized extension service, local capacity building, rural infrastructural development, input distribution, technology development, transfer and adoption, as well as improved rural livelihood and food security. Significant ADP achievements in the above focus areas have guaranteed programme continuity for the past two decades in Nigeria. These achievements notwithstanding, higher performance were constrained by undue political interference by some state governments, cash flow instability due to irregular payment of counterpart funding by some state governments, rapid staff turn-over in most ADPs and adverse effects of some macro-economic policies of government, among others. In order for the ADP system to make greater impact, it is recommended that there should be increased political support by the governments, increased community/beneficiary participation, commercialization of more ADP activities and more private sector involvement and intensification of extension-research linkage.