EFFECTS OF AGRO-PROCESSING, PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT AND LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (APPEALS) PROJECT ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF PARTICIPATING YOUTH CROP FARMERS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research analysed the effects of Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) Project on the livelihood of participating youth crop farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 235 respondents for the study.    Data were collected through the administration of  structured questionnaireand analyzed using  descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The  results  revealed that, the youth crop farmers were in their active age with the mean age of 33 years. The results also, revealed that 71.9% of the respondents were maleWhile 43.8%  have spent 1-5 years in cooperative societies with a mean of 3 extension visits in a month. The results of Z-test revealed that cassava farmers had a mean differences on yield of  50.8tons with Z-value of 14.297 (P<0.01), rice farmers had mean differences of 6.15 tons and Z-value of 6.365 (P<0.01), and cashew farmers had mean differences of 2.84 tons with a Z-value of 13.042 (P<0.01). On income, cassava farmers had a mean differences of  N116769.2  with Z-value of 4.043 (P<0.01), rice farmers had mean differences of N1389361.0 and Z-value of 3.572(P<0.01), and cashew farmers had mean differences of N494894.2 with a Z-value of 4.644 (P<0.01). On level of living,  the mean differences of youth crop farmers before and after participating in APPEALS project was N1509155.5  with Z-value of 4.215 (P<0.01). Household assets such as furniture, school fees, knapsacks sprayer, planter and sewing machine were majorly increased with a percentage difference of 10.5%, 13.2%, 18.1%, 75% and 10% respectively. Livestock assets such as cow, ducks, chicken and rabbit were increased by 41.6%, 42.8%, 96.6% and 81.4% respectively, showing substantial livelihood improvement before and after participation in APPEALS project. It was concluded that, APPEALS project  had a significant positive effects on the livelihood of youth crop farmers. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made: The government and relevant stakeholders should consider expanding the project to reach more youth crop farmers, ensuring broader participation and increased agricultural productivityand  continued access to credit facilities, training, and modern farming equipment should be provided to farmers to sustain the yield and income growth observed in the study.