Impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme on Livelihood of Rice Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) on rice farmers among beneficiaries in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, the objectives were to: examine performance of the Programme in respect to rice production; and assess the impact of the Programme on the livelihood of beneficiaries, before and after the Programme in Anambra State. A multi-stage procedure, involving purposive and simple random sampling techniques was used to select one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Data were collected from primary source using a questionnaire, while percentage, standard deviation, mean score, paired sample T-test and Chi-square were used for data analysis. The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme had highest level of achievement in the provision of loans to the farmers with mean (x ̅ = 5.00). The ABP made significant positive effect on hectarages of land cultivated (t= 12.134), total quantity of rice produced (metric tonne) (t= 10.635), estimated annual income from rice (t= 70.611), access to agro-input (χ2= 25.431), access to credit (χ2= 35.075), ease of marketing rice produce (χ2= 14.883), knowledge of rice production practices (χ2= 76.309) and attitude toward rice production (χ2= 75.075). It was recommended that government should broaden extension service and contact in the area by engaging more extension agents for more coverage. By this, the extension agents will create adequate awareness through sensitization to enable rice farmers have foreknowledge on the aims, objectives and implementation strategies of the Programme. Also adequate training on implementation strategies of the ABP should be given to the beneficiaries by the management of ABP.