Utilization of Fadama III Additional Financing among rice farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. In: Kolawole Adebayo (ed). Rural Social Protection and Interventions in Nigeria.

Abstract

The study assessed the utilization of fadama III AF rice technologies among rice farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the rice farmers in fadama III AF in the study area, and determine the factors influencing utilization of fadama III AF rice technologies by the farmers. Primary data were used for this study and these were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 160 respondents randomly for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as multiple regression (OLS) were used to analyzed the data. the age of the farmers revealed that 33% were between 40-49 years. The mean of the farmers was 41 years. On the sex of the farmers, 82% were male while 34% had secondary education. A total of 30% farmers had between 6-10 members of household with an average household size of 9 members. The result also showed that 21% had between 16-25 years of farming experience. Average farming experience was 16 years. A total off 100% had 1 hectare of farm size and all the farmers had contact with Fadama facilitators during the cropping year. It is also revealed that only 11% had no access to credit. About 75% of the farmers had 3-4 information sources relating to the programme. All the farmers were actively commited to Fadama III AF programme. There average income from rice farming was N328,081.50. the regression analysis results (OLS) shows that sex, education, farming experience, information sources, contact with fadama facilitators were significant at 1% or 0.01, farm size, social organization and age significant at 5% or 0.05 and access to credit indicated positive and significant at 10% or 0.1 with utilization of fadama III AF rice technologies. The study recommended that farmers should be given more assistance to obtain credit facilities through financial institutions organizations.