Effect of Fadama III project on rice farmers in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the effect of Fadama 111 project on rice farmers in Abakiliki L.G.A, Ebonyi State. The specific objectives of the study were to; examine the sociolect-economic characteristics of Fadama 111 in the study area, assess the change in outputs and income of the beneficiaries, determine the factors influencing the income level of
beneficiaries, identify the constraints encountered by the beneficiaries in the study area. Results from this study shows that average output of respondents increased from 217, 825.00 tonsto 316, 275.00 tons implying a 45.1%increase. Average income of beneficiaries also increased from ₦648, 952.95 to ₦2, 169,623.00 also implying a 234.33% increase in income as a result of participation in the project. The OLS regression analysis had the Exponential equation as the lead equation. The R2 was 0.696. Variables such as age of respondents and quantity of seeds were negatively significant at 5%, while, household size and farm size were positively significant at 1% . The study
recommends that a pool of manpower should be put in place for ease of access by older farmers and that the project should link farmers to source of certified seeds.