EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA SUPPORT PROGRAM ON POVERTY STATUS OF RICE FARMERS IN NIGER AND KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the effect of the agricultural transformation agenda support program (ATASP-1) on the poverty status of rice farmers in Niger and Kebbi State, Nigeria. Using the Foster-Greer Thorbecke (FGT) model and Propensity Score Marching (PSM) and the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) Model. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 710, consisting of 355 participants and non-participants of ATASP-1 rice farmers in Niger and Kebbi States, respectively. Data were analyzed using the FGT model and then the propensity score marching method. Results showed that among ATASP-1 participant farmers, 31.55% were classified as moderately poor, 5.07% were extremely poor, and 63.38% were non-poor. The poverty line was estimated to be 0.3243, 0.3693, and 0.3520 for the participants, non-participants, and in the pooled result, respectively. The poverty severity we found to be 0.1052 for the participants, 0.1364 for the non-participants, and 0.1239 in the pooled result. The study found that various factors, including crop output, age, marital status, household size, credit received, extension visits, and farmer's group membership, significantly influenced participation in ATASP-1. The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support program positively impacted participants' poverty status, suggesting the need for wider coverage.