Effect of IFAD-VCDP on Input-Output Commercialization of Rice Farmers in Niger State of Nigeria

The present research empirically determined the effect of IFAD programme on output and input commercialization among rice farmers in Niger State of Nigeria using field survey data elicited from 111 participants and 185 non-participants (90 and 95 non-participants from exposed and control groups respectively) drawn via multi-stage sampling design. The collected data were analyzed using Heckman’s model. The empirical finding showed that the programme has no effect on output commercialization due to the poor market outlet as a result of no provision of established off-takers. However, the input support aspect of the programme mandate exerts an effect on the input commercialization among the farmers in the studied area. Furthermore, the poor incentive for extension agents, non-productive large household dominated by weaker people and one-way income traffic affected output commercialization among the rice farmers in the study area. Therefore, based on these, the programme should link the farmers with off-takers so as to sustain the viability of the programme even after its life span. In addition, to tackle poor extension contact, the farmers should effectively and efficiently use their social capital to introduce farmer to farmer extension approach by using private extension service as the technical support unit.

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