IMPACT OF FADAMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION AMONG FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of the fadama project on the poverty status of both the beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Questionnaire was randomly administered among 2,144 respondents in four (4) Local Government Areas (LGAs) namely, Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kauru and Zango Kataf. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) model, regression analysis were employed in analyzing the data. The result showed that 72% of the respondents were males and married. More than 82% of the fadama beneficiaries had a positive perception of the program. The fadama beneficiary farmers had a mean income of ₦613,323 and ₦419,643 for the non-fadama beneficiary farmers. It was also disclosed that age, gender, dependency ratio and farming experience had significant relationship with their income, 40% of the fadama beneficiaries were poor, 69% of the non- fadama beneficiary farmers were poor. It was therefore, concluded that fadama program had a significant impact in reducing the poverty status of the beneficiaries. The study recommended that for sustainability, the farmers should be included as the drivers of fadama program with the government and private sector as collaborators. The women should also be helped to form functional cooperatives so that poverty among them can be significantly reduced.