AGRICULTURAL LOANS RECOVERY UNDER THE NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN ONDO STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate loan repayment amongst beneficiaries of the National Directorate of Employment (N. D. E.) Agricultural Programme in Ondo State in order to kbow the repayment ability of the respondents. To achieve this main objective, data were collected from one hundred and fifty (150) randomly selected farmers under the N. D. E. Agricultural Programme. This • included 75 school 1eav er farmers and 75 graduate farmers. The graduate farmers were further categorized into 29 graduates of agriculture and 46 non-graduates of agriculture. Basic statistics, estimation procedures and test of hypothesis were employed in the analysis. Based on the findings, it is suggested that preference should be given to graduates with relevant expenence III farming for participation III the N. D. E. Agricultural programme. in addition, the N. D. E. office should increase monitoring and supervision of the beneficiaries, regularly, to increase loan recovery rate. Non graduates of agricultural beneficiaries should be given thorough practical training before their consideration for the agricultural loans. Supportive services such as inputs procurement, storage facilities, transport facilities and market facilities should be provided and made available to farmers to improve their production.