ENTREPRENEURIAL VALUE CHAIN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RICE FARMERS IN SELECTED AREAS OF KEBBI AND NIGER STATES

Abstract

One of the major impediments of rural development is the lack of entrepreneurial value chain in production as most agricultural produce meant for the market are always in their primary form. Secondly, an estimated 30% of agricultural produce in rural areas is wasted because of constraints in weak rural value chains. The study examines entrepreneurial rice value chain and rural development in selected communities of Kebbi and Niger states. To achieve this objective, one thousand, one hundred and twenty-four (1124) respondents mainly farmers drawn from the population of five thousand, nine hundred and ten (5910) registered farmers were targeted using the mixed approach and purposive sampling. The questionnaire and focus group discussion were used as instruments of data collection. Data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study found that entrepreneurial value chain exists in the selected communities. The study recommends the need for constant innovation in technological inputs of the value chain elements (inputs, production, processing, and packaging) to raise productivity, stay competitive and enhance rural development.