AN APPRAISAL OF THE NATIONAL LIVESTOCK PROJECTS DIVISION SMALL RUMINANT CREDIT PROGRAMME IN EKITI AND ONDO STATES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study appraised the small ruminant credit programme of the National Livestock Project Division (NLPD) in Ekiti and Ondo States. The study examined the relationship of NLPD small ruminant farmers' stock and loan sizes with some selected variables, examined their loan-related problems as well as the problems confronting small ruminant production in Ekiti and Ondo States. Data for the study were collected from 100 beneficiaries that were selected by simple random sampling from the total number of 175 small ruminant beneficiaries from Ekiti and Ondo States. Analysis of data was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics. The relationship of stock size and loan size with some selected variables such as family size. age of respondents, extension visit, household income was analysed using Pearson product moment correlation. The results showed that the stock size correlate positively with the variables while there is no significant correlation with extension visit. The loan size also correlate positively with the same variables. The findings from the demographic variables showed that 56.00% of the beneficiaries were female while 44.00% were male. In addition 97.98% of the beneficiaries were married. About 97.92% of the borrowers had one form of education or the other. As the family size increases, the stock size also increases. There were more hands available to take care of the stock. The study also showed that as the age of respondents increases the stock size also increases. The respondents had gained more knowledge and acquired more experience which had assisted them in managing their flocks more successfully. Furthermore, increase in stock size equally brought an increase in the household income. Findings further showed that before receiving the loan, mean herd size was 3.75 goats. But after loan use, this increased to 10.19.