Effect of Second National Fadama Development Project on Farmers Productivity in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

A work was carried out on the Effect of Second National Fadama Development Project on farmers productivity in Imo State, Nigeria.  Specifically it examined socio-economic characteristics of farmers (Fadama users and non fadama users); identify the infrastructures provided by the Fadama Project; and determined productivity difference between Fadama users and non Fadama users in Imo State. A total of two hundred and thirty five (235) respondents were sampled, which comprised one hundred and fifteen (115) Fadama users and one hundred and twenty non Fadama users. They were randomly selected from six local government areas out of the eleven LGAs that participated in the Second National Fadama Development Project in Imo State. Data were collected using two sets of questionnaire administered to Fadama users and non Fadama users respectively. Frequency, percentage, and z-test analysis were used to analyze the data collected. The result showed that there is significant difference at 1% between productivity of Fadama users and non Fadama users in the study area. It further revealed a productivity difference of 6.333913.  This implied that the Second National Fadama Development Project has greatly increased the productivity of the farmers who participated in the project. There is positive correlation between the output of Fadama users and that of non Fadama users. It was also found out that borehole, bridge, VIP Latrine, cooling shed, cold room and cassava processing machine were provided to some communities that participated in the Fadama Project. In conclusion, Fadama Users productivity has been increased more than the non Fadama Users in Imo State, Nigeria. I recommend that more farmers should be encouraged to participate in the on-going National Fadama Development Project in Nigeria.

Keywords: Farmers, Fadama Users, Non-Fadama Users and National Fadama Development Project.