Economic Impact of IFAD-Value Chain Development Programme on Rice Farmers in North Central Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

Raising agricultural productivity, reducing food insecurity and poverty levels of poor- resource farmers is an important policy goal for any concerned nation, particularly, in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. The study assessed the economic impact of International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development  Programme (IFAD-VCDP) on rice farmers in North Central Zone, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques with a well structured questionnaire. Data obtained show a positive trend in net farm income per hectare, increasing from N390, 897.90 to N686, 652.91 before and after IFAD-VCDP intervention respectively. Before IFAD-VCDP intervention, 41.95% of the respondents were food-secured, improving to 61.43% after intervention. Poverty status of the respondents decreased from 50.5% before IFAD-VCDP to 43.8% after the programme intervention, with a reduced poverty depth and severity of 0.21 and 0.082 respectively. The study findings conclusively demonstrate that the IFAD-VCDP had a substantial and positive impact on livelihoods of the farmers as it led to significant improvements in the farmers’ income, resulting in notable rise in net farm income per hectare, accompanied by economic uplift in food security and a reduction in poverty level among the rural farmers in the study area. Hence, the findings of the study provide valuable insights for tailoring interventions to maximize the economic benefits for the rural farmers.