The role of Agricultural Development Bank in the Development of Rural Women in Agriculture (A Case Study of Wa-West District).

Abstract

This study shows the role of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) in assisting rural women in agriculture, a case study of the Wa-West District notably Ponyentanga, Gaa and Nyoli. The study looks at the way rural women in Agricultural are equipped with ADB loans to improve upon their farming practices. The study critically examines the loan size, mode of payment and interest rates aiming at evaluating its efficacy towards improve farming methods. The values and ideas of these women farmers were examined to find out whether there have been changes in their methods of farming and improve living condition as a result of loans rendered by ADB, Wa Branch to them.  Questionnaire was used to find out the extent to which ADB operates in those areas. In all, one hundred (100) questionnaires were administered to one hundred respondents. Analysis of responses to questionnaires clearly shows that services render by ADB in these areas were ineffective. They further showed that, loan size, interest rate and mode of payment used by bank are inappropriate. As a consequence, there is no much improvement in their way of lives and farming practices.  It is recommended that, mode of payment be extended, interest rate reduced, loan size increased and method of payment be determined by farmers. It is also recommended that, training programmers’ should always be organized alongside execution of loans to improve the performance of women beneficiaries.

Keywords: Agricultural development Bank (ADB), Development, women in Agric, loans, Wa west District.