Assessing IFAD Value Chain Development Programme on productivity and income of smallholder farmers in Obafemi-Owode and Yewa North Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Smallholder farmers are faced with the challenges of low productivity, poor access to market, poor processing technology, and a vicious cycle of poverty. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) intervention focused on agriculture using a value chain approach to enhance market access and increase productivity growth and income of smallholder farmers.

This study, therefore, assessed the effect of the IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) on the productivity growth and income of smallholder cassava and rice farmers in Obafemi-Owode and Yewa North local government areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. Ogun State is one of the benefitting states of the IFAD Value Chain Development Programme in Nigeria. The study area comprises a traditionally agrarian population of cassava and rice staple farmers. The VCDP provided input support, agrochemicals, land development and preparation, agricultural processing and equipment and market interventions which are requisite value addition techniques. 

The beneficiaries of these supports are farmers in the different enterprise units (producers, processors and marketers).

Data were collected using structured questionnaires and focused group discussions. The sample size comprised 329 respondents made up of 227 farming households in Obafemi-Owode and 102 farming households in Yewa North local governments areas of Ogun State. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the VCDP has contributed significantly to the productivity growth and income of smallholder farmers in Obafemi-Owode and Yewa North LGAs of Ogun State, Nigeria. It also led to enterprise development, value addition and marketable surpluses. The study also identified the challenges confronting the VCDP, and opportunities for scaling up the programme in Nigeria.

Keywords: Smallholder farmers, Value chain, Cassava, Rice, Income