Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and Poverty Level Among Smallholder Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria: Implications for Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
- David Terfa Akighir
- Eunice Akegh
- Ebele Emmanuel
- ( paper pages. 241 - 269 )
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) on the poverty level of smallholder farmers in Benue State and the implications for the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). Using a cohort survey design, 382 beneficiaries were selected for the investigation. The paper used analytical techniques including tables, simple percentages, charts, paired t-test, FGT poverty indices and a logit model to analyse the collected data. Findings revealed that beneficiaries of the ABP have increased farmsizes without corresponding increase in farm output and income. Further investigation revealed that factors such as late supply of farm input, unproductive seedlings and unfavourable climatic conditions were responsible for poor yield and non-increase in the income of beneficiaries. Given that the income of the beneficiaries did not increase, the programme was considered to have failed to reduce poverty in the state as expected. Findings again showed that only 4% of beneficiaries were lifted from core poor status to moderately poor status and only 1% of the beneficiaries were lifted from moderately poor status to non-poor status after benefiting from the programme. Furthermore, findings from the logit regression model showed that benefiting from the ABP is likely to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries if implementation challenges are tackled. The implication is that, proper implementation of the ABP will have positive impact on the implementation of the ERGP by providing employment and reducing poverty as well as increasing agricultural output for domestic consumption and export. Increases in agriculturalproduction and export will reduce the total dependence of the economy on oil. To achieve this, the paper recommends that the implementation strategy of the ABP in Benue State should be changed to ensure timely supply of farm inputs. Also, there must be propermonitoring of the farming activities of the beneficiaries by agricultural extension workers to ensure strict compliance with best farming practices for enhanced productivity in the state.
Citation
David Terfa Akighir, Eunice Akegh, Ebele Emmanuel.
2021.
"Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and Poverty Level Among Smallholder Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria: Implications for Economic Recovery and Growth Plan"
The Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies,
63 (2): 241 - 269.
JEL Classification
Q18, I31, I32
