EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA PROGRAMME ON FARMERS’ PRODUCTION IN KWARA AND ONDO STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effects of agricultural transformation agenda programmes on farmers’ production in Ondo and Kwara States, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the beneficiaries of agricultural transformation agenda programme in Ondo and Kwara States. A total of three hundred and sixty respondents were sampled using multi-stage sampling procedure. The study revealed among others that majority of the respondents were male (60.3%), married (80.0%). Also, 68.1% of the respondents had one form of education or the other. The mean age of the respondents was 44years. The majority of the respondents have manageable household size of five (5) persons that can assist on the farm. The result showed that radio and fellow farmers were the major sources of information available to the farmers on ATA programme. Findings showed that out of the four components of agricultural transformation agenda, growth enhancement scheme (GES) was regarded as most popular in the study areas. Result further revealed that majority of the respondents participated well under GES than the other three components under ATA. The result also revealed that farmers still have the same level of understanding of cultivation of the three crops under review before and after participating in ATA programme. Some of the positive perception towards ATA programme are; ATA programme has increased the quantity of the farm product (=3.7), quality of their product was positively affected (=3.5), the programme served as a sure source of good planting materials for them (=3.5). However, the respondents opined that government should be timely in distributing inputs supply under GES programme (=2.7), the quantity of inputs given to farmers should be increased so as to cater for farmer with large hectare of land, and the number of redemption centers available are not enough for the successful collection of inputs in the study areas (=3.6.). The result revealed that search for quality inputs (=5.0), need for increase in farm production (=5.0) and need for more money to purchase input (=4.8) were factors that motivated farmers’ interest in participating in ATA programme. The major constraints to ATA programme were farmers’ not having equal opportunities to make suggestion during meetings (=1.8), poor communication and information sharing (=1.7) and ineffective extension services and coverage (=1.5). There was a significant difference between farmers’ output before and after participating in ATA programme. The study recommended that government should resuscitate the e-wallet system and create more redemption centers so as to reduce the distance covered by the farmers.