Pages: (13-25 )
Abstract
In an attempt to address the challenges and re awaken the agricultural sector, the Federal government in 2015 launched the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) to ensure food security, job creation, and diversification of economy. This study focused on the effects of Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) on rice farmers in Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Area, Ekiti State. Primary data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire from a total of 120 rice farmers in the study area. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select rice farming households head for the study. The analytical tools used were descriptive, farm budgetary techniques, and regression analysis. The major constraints as ranked include unpredictable climatic conditions, transportation problem, inadequate extension services, and inadequate of finance. Input supply, farming equipment, and trainings were the major benefits received from the ABP. The average net profit for ABP beneficiaries of N562,295±20,012 was higher than N263.709±22,317 for ABP non-beneficiaries. Years spent in school, years of rice farming experience, and anchor borrower’s awareness were statistically significant at 5% level and had a positive relationship with the level of rice farmers’ participation in ABP. Also, farm size was statistically significant at 1% level and had a positive effect on rice farmers’ participation in the programme. The study recommends a policy trust that will make ABP more accessible to the farmers should be formulated and ABP non-beneficiaries rice farmers should be encouraged to participate in the programme.
Keywords: Rice, ABP, production, participation, profit, Nigeria,