AN ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF FADAMA II PROJECT ON LIVELIHOOD OF FARMERS IN ORIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

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1 Published March, 1 Akangbe, et al., 1 AN ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF FADAMA II PROJECT ON LIVELIHOOD OF FARMERS IN ORIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA ABSTRACT Akangbe, J. A., Ogunyinka, W., Ayanda, I. F., Achem, B. and Adisa, R. S. Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Dev. Univ. of Ilorin, Nigeria *Corresponding author: jonesakangbe@gmail.com The study investigated the socio-economic characteristics of Fadama users. It identified services rendered, production constraints and determined the influence of Fadama II on farmers livelihood in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Orire Local government was purposively selected from the ten (1) Local Government Areas involved in Fadama project in Oyo State. Out of the 39 communities in Orire Local Government Area, 1 communities were randomly selected. Six farmers each of Fadama and Non-Fadama farmers respectively, were randomly selected from each community. Thus a total of 6 fadama and 6 non-fadama farmers were selected for the study. The Findings revealed that both male (71.7%) and female (8.3%) farmers were involved in the Fadama project. The study also indicates that the average age of Fadama farmers is 36.6 years while non fadama farmers is 34 years. This shows that youths are involved in Fadama Project implementation and farming is becoming profitable due to facilities the project is providing that attract the youths. Fadama Farmers (84.9%) and Non-fadama farmers (66.7%) possessed primary school, secondary school and tertiary education. On the average fadama farmers cropped 1. hectares while Non-fadama had 1.3 hectares of farm-land. Thus the average farm size of the beneficiaries increased by over 1% against average farm size of Nigerian farmers (.7 hectares, Ingawa, ). Fadama farmers recorded an income of N177, as against N17,. for the non-fadama farmers. This indicates that Fadama farmers are in a better position to invest more on agriculture, to increase farm size, output and income. Indeed 91.7% of fadama farmers are positioned to practice rainfed and irrigation farming. The study further reveals that 8.17% and 1% of Fadama and Non-fadama farmers respectively access credit from state and local Government with single digit interest rate, while 71.7% and 6% of Fadama and Non-Fadama farmer respectively accessed fertilizer. On the whole Fadama project increased employment opportunity (3%), increased income and minimized constraints of agricultural production. A significant relationship exists between access to irrigation pump, fertilizer and credit between fadama and non-fadama farmers. It is recommended therefore that the scope of the project be expanded to cover all farmers in the state and most farmers in the country because of its potential to boost food production. Keywords: Fadama, benefits, constraints, and livelihood. GENERAL BACKGROUND The Sub-Saharan African (SSA), where Nigeria belongs is the only developing region in the world where hunger is worsening, not improving. The proportion of hungry people in SSA has remained in the 33-3% range since 197 (highest overall prevalence in the world). The absolute numbers of hungry Africans have increased substantially with population growth, with 88 million in 197 and million people between 1999 and 1 (Sarah, ). In Nigeria, two of every three Nigerians live below one United States dollar per day and that poverty is concentrated in rural areas, which is home to 7% of the nation s poor, most of them farmers (Edache, 6). The Nigerian Agricultural Sector has not fulfilled the expectations of the farmers as most of them are poorly fed and calorie intake is below the recommended level of 44 kilo Calories and 6 grains of protein per person per day (FAO.1). Several schemes have been initiated by successive governments in Nigeria to bring about improvements in the food supply of the country by attempting to increase food output. These schemes include National Accelerated food Production Project (NAFPP, 1976), operation feed the Nation (OFN, ), Green Revolution ( ), Back to land ( ), River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAS, 1977 to date; credit scheme Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development (198 to date) and Agricultural Development Project (ADP, 197 to date) among others. The primary goal in each case was the attainment of self-sufficiency in food production, supply of raw materials to industries as well as to increase the level of farmers income and standard of living. Tsado (4) reported that most of these programmes failed to achieve the desired objectives because they were top-down in design and implementation. As parts of its efforts to increase food production through, all year round farming Fadama Project was conceived and implemented in phase, (Phase I) and 4-1 (Phase II). Fadama I focused mainly on crop production and therefore emphasized on provision of boreholes and water pumps at the expense of NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1, 1 7

2 Published March, 1 Akangbe, et al., 1 downstream activities i.e. processing, storage, market outlets, infrastructures development etc). Fadama II project assisted farmer to access improved seeds, credit, processing, storage, marketing facilities, irrigation pumps and extension services. Problem statement Three-quarters of the world population live in developing world. Of these three-quarters,.8 billion live in rural areas representing the majority of humanity. Today the dwellers of rural areas are confronted with extreme poverty and hunger and therefore deserve attention from the government to improve their well-being. The proportion of hungry people in Africa that is situated in Nigeria is more than 1 million. Consequently, the country has been described as home to more than 1 million food insecured people. Furthermore, two of every three Nigerians live below one United States dollar per day and that poverty is concentrated in rural areas, which is home of 7 percent of the nation s poor with most of them being farmers (Edache, 6). Poverty and extreme hunger faced by farmers are caused primarily because the production resources are inadequate to support agricultural production in commercial quantity with the effects that enormous resources had to be expended on importation at the detriment of local production. In 7 Nigerian expanded a total of N1.3 trillion on rice importation, (Sayyaid, 8). In addition, largescale irrigation schemes failed to yield the anticipated increase in food production. Human population is on the increase, the demand for food also expands. There is an increasing pressure on the upland cultivable area for institutions, housing and industrial development. Furthermore, climate change has contributed immensely to increased desertification, unpredictable rainfall pattern, low farm yield (1.8 tons/hectare for rice, 1.1 tons/hectare maize etc), and small farm size (.7 hectares per farmer, Ingawa () low income, migration of cattle Fulani herders to the southern part of Nigeria, increase conflict in farmers/fulani conflict, and introduction of new species/strains of pests (Omotayo, 1). Consequently, the World Bank, African Development Bank, Federal and State Government conceived and implemented Fadama Project to effect optimum utilization of wet land in Nigeria especially during the dry season when most of the crop farmers are idle. This is to ensure optimum land use to ensure sufficient food production. The principle of Community Driven Development was imbibed during project design and implementation. This involved the participation of all Fadama resources users including crop farmers, pastoralists, fisherman, women, on and off far entrepreneurs. The strategy is based on the premier that collective action can help to overcome many problems that face poor farmers in production and marketing (Ostrom, 4). The implementation of the project commenced in 4. It is therefore desirable to measure changes the project has made on the livelihood of the beneficiaries. The study therefore intends to provide answers to the following research questions. What are the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers (beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries) in the study area? What are activities/services rendered to farmers by fadama project? What are the changes in the production constraints faced by farmers? What is the influence of Fadama Project on participants livelihood. Specifically, the study is to: Determine the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area. Identify activities/services rendered by fadama project Identify production constraints confronting the farmers Determine the influence of Fadama Project in farmers livelihood. Hypotheses There is no significant relationship between the constraints, faced by beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of Fadama Project. There is no significant relationship between the sources of farm inputs used by Fadama and non-fadama farmers. METHODOLOGY The study was conducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, South-West Geo-political zone of Nigeria. Oyo State was created in February, 1976 with a total population of.6 million majority of which are farmers. It has a land area of 7,14 square kilometers located between latitude 9N and 19N of the equator and between longitude. and E of the prime meridian. It has 31 Local Government Areas out of which ten (1) Local Government Areas are involved in Fadama-II project. These include Orire, Olorunsogo, Ona-Ara, Surulere, Ido, Oyo West, Akinyele, Ibarapa North, Iwajowa and Egbeda. Orire Local Government was purposively selected for the study because of its geographical, ecological and farming practices similarities to what obtain in many parts of the country. The Local Government has a total land area of,4 square kilometer and 11, inhabitants. It is expected that the NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1, 1 8

3 Published March, 1 Akangbe, et al., 1 findings and recommendations arising from the study would be relevant to Fadama development in the country. The population for this study consists of Fadama and Non-Fadama Farmers in the Local Government Area. Out of the 39 communities in the local government area, 1 communities were randomly selected for the study. Six each of Fadama and Non-Fadama farmer were randomly selected from each community. Thus a total of 6 Fadama and 6 Non- Fadama farmers were selected for the study. The total sample size is. Primary Data was collected through interview schedule. The secondary data was gathered from internet, journals and report of Oyo State Agricultural Development and Fadama Development Projects. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Data were presented in tabular form for ease of comparison. While inferential statistics were also used and include Mann- Whitney and Kruska Wallis test. The socio-economic characteristics are vital to gaining insight into the kind of person s involved in Fadama project. The study reveals that both male (71.7%) and female (8.3%) are involved in Fadama-II project while the corresponding values for Non-Fadama farmers are 9% male and 6.7% female. The implication is that the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach assisted in the inclusion of females in the project design, and implementation. Furthermore, the mean age of Fadama farmers (36.6 years) and non-fadama farmers (34 years) which indicate that youth are now venturing into farming. It may be assumed that farming environment is improving, becoming profitable and attractive to the youth. The study also reveals that most of the Fadama farmers (84.9%) possessed either primary, secondary or tertiary education. Likewise, 66.7% of mpm-fadama farmers possessed similar types of education. Importantly, 8.3% and % of Fadama farmers and non- Fadama farmers respectively possessed tertiary education. This indicate that the efforts of the government to make farming attractive and to encourage youth to take farming as a means of livelihood is yielding positive dividend. The youth are now set to replace the aged farmers whose productivity is declining at a geometric progression. It is also indicating that ruralurban exodus will also be reduced. The result of the study revealed that 4 (4%) of the Fadama farmers operate between hectares while 14 (% of non- Fadama farmers operate corresponding size of Fadama. Further, 36 (6%) and 4 (7%) of Fadama and non- Fadama farmers respectively operates between < hectares of Fadama. However, 7 (11.7%) and (8.3%) of Fadama and non- Fadama farmers operate between hectares. On the average a Fadama farmer and non- Fadama farmer operates 1. and 1.3 hectares of Fadama respectively. Thus with the intervention of Fadama project, Fadama farmers were able to increase their farm size by. hectares (14.6%) above non- Fadama farmers. Similarly farmer size (1. hectares for Fadama users) increased by over 1% over the average farm size of (.hectares) reported by Ingawa,. The study further reveals that the Fadama intervention has assisted the Fadama users to use both rainfed (8.3%) and combination of rained and irrigation farming (91.7%). While the corresponding value for non-fadama is 6% and 36.7% for rainfed only and combination of rainfed and irrigation farming respectively. It is clear that Fadama project assists the participating farmers to access irrigation facilities on a better scales than non- Fadama farmers. The study also reveals that 8.17% and 1% of Fadama and non-fadama farmers access credit through Fadama user group credit union established by both State and local government with single digit interest rate. Indeed the study indicates that many of the non- Fadama farmers (4%) access credit through commercial banks with high interest rate of over %. High interest rate affects the overall return to investment and discourages farmers from taking loan to expand their farming activities. The study also revealed that Fadama farmer (71.7%) access fertilizer through the Fadama user Group. Many of the non-fadama (6%) access fertilizer through the open market, the quality of which cannot be guaranteed as a result of rebagging and adulteration (Ayanda, 8. Selling price is equally exorbitant at about N,191.6 per bag (Ayanda, 8). The study also revealed that the project assisted participating farmers (66.7%) to access water pump. A reasonable number of non-fadama 33.4% do not possess water pump. This is a limiting factor to production. Arising from the study (Table 1) is a comparison of the income of Fadama and non-fadama and nonfadama farmers. The table reveals an income range of between less than N1,. to above N3,. to the Fadama farmers while the range is between less than N1,. to N3,. for non-fadama farmers. The higher number of Fadama farmers 17 (8.4%) fall within the income bracket of 11,. from operating an average farm size of 1. hectares while 4 (6.7%) of non-fadama farmers fall within the same income bracket. In addition 7 (11.6%) of the Fadama farmers recorded income of over N3,.. on the whole, Fadama farmers recorded an average of N177,. while it was N17,. for non-fadama. Thus the Fadama farmers recorded an increased of income about (N31.3%). Librettos et al. (31.3) pointed out most measures of socio-economic status are based upon three related dimensions: occupation, education and income. The result of the study reveals that Fadama farmers are of higher socio-economic status than non-participants in fadama project. They have higher income (N177,.) and attained higher level of formal education 84.9%. 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4 Published March, 1 Akangbe, et al., 1 Table 1: Annual Income of respondents Fadama users Non-fadama users Annual Income (N ) Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage < Above Total Table II: Distribution of respondents according to the effect of fadama project on the beneficiaries Fadama users Non-fadama users Annual Income (N ) Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage Increase Income Provide employment Increase food availability Increase social interaction Obstruct animal for grazing Land degradation Increase conflict Development of New Technology Decrease food availability Source: Field survey 8 The study reveals the impact of Fadama on the socio-economic status of the Famada and Non-Fadama farmers. Table II indicates that 3.% of Fadama farmers were assisted by the project to have an increase in income. Similarly 3 (%) of the non-fadama farmers indicates that the project assisted them to record an increase income. This might be due to trickle down effects of the fadama project which provided avenue for non-fadama farmers to accessing technological information, inputs and marketing opportunities. The project also provides employment opportunities as indicated by 3% and % of fadama and non-fadama farmers. Both fadama (3%) and non- fadama farmers (%) report that the project has increased food availability in the study area. On the whole 4% of the fadama and non- fadama farmers report that the project has increased the development of new technology on farming. However a small proportion of fadama farmer (8.3%) and non- fadama farmer (6.7%) report that continuous cropping of fadama results into land degradation. More important fadama has assisted to introduce new production technology minimize conflicts and improve social interaction among the stakeholders. Table III: Constraints for Fadama Farmers Kruska-Wallis Test for the Significance and order of the constraints for Fadama farmers and non-fadama Farmers from most important to less important Constraints Ranking Chi-square 39.7 Insufficient land Df 8 Storage facilities Assymp. Sig.. Service provider Processing facilities High cost of production Marketing 64.3 Insufficient credit 6.88 Inadequate Water Pump Fertilizer shortage Source: Field Survey, 8. NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1, 1 3

5 Published March, 1 Akangbe, et al., 1 The study (Table III) reveals that the most important constraints to the fadama farmers is insufficient land. This is not surprising as pattern of land ownership through inheritance constitute an impediments for the introduction of new agricultural enterprises as individual or households hold tenaciously to their land do not allow new entrants to access land for agricultural programme. Land reform in one of the seven points agenda of the Federal Government. Hopefully, it will address the issue of land availability for agricultural development. Table III and IV indicates the ranking of the most important constraints to the farmers. The fadama farmers rank insufficient land to be the most limiting factor with a value of while credit is considered to be the most important constraints to the nonfadama farmers (31.84). on the whole fadama project has assisted the fadama farmer to reduce the level of severity of some of the identified constraints. The ranking score for marketing is 64.3 and by fadama and nonfadama farmers respectively while storage facilities were ranked and by fadama and non-fadama farmers respectively. Fertilizer shortage ranked (fadama farmer) and 48.4 (non-fadama farmers respective. Fertilizer shortage ranked (fadama farmer) and 48.4 (non-fadama farmers) indicates that fadama farmers are opportune to access the input better than non-fadama farmer. Marketing channel was a grievous constraint for nonfadama farmer compared with fadama farmer (64.3). Table IV: Constraints for Non-Fadama Farmers Constraints Ranking Chi-square 6.33 Insufficient credit Df 8 Storage facilities Assymp. Sig.. Marketing Insufficient land Processing facilities High cost of production 8.6 Fertilizer shortage 48.4 Service provider Lack of water pump Source: Field Survey, 8. It is evident from Table V that a significant relationship exist in the access of water pump, Agrochemical, fertilizer and credit (P <.) between the Fadama and non-fadama farmers. It is established that access to these resources influenced the increase in farm size cultivated, output and income of fadama over the non-participating farmers in fadama project. Nwanze () reports that capability of the country to meet its food requirements if farmers can apply kilogram of fertilizer per hectare as against practice of applying 1 kilograms / hectare. No significant relationship in accessing quality seed (P <.14) between fadama and non-fadama users. The implication is that Fadama project assisted beneficiaries to credit, fertilizer and water pump. However, it is evident that Fadama project has not addressed the issue of provision of quality as no significant relationship exist between the fadama and nonfadama users. It is evident from the above that there is dearth of quality seeds in the country. Quality seed is accountable for about % of crop yield. Table V: Rankings on hypothesis tested on inputs Item Source of Water Pump Agrochemicals and Fertilizer Seed Source Credit Source Source: Field Survey, 8. Rankings Fadama Farmer Non- Fadama Farmer Mann- Whitney (U) Wilconxon (w) Z Assymp. Sig. ( tailed) CONCLUSION The fadama-ii project initiative led to operation of larger farm sizes, higher income for the participating farmers in the project. The Fadama farmers accessed farm inputs of the right quality and from reliable sources. Especially, Fadama- II assisted the beneficiaries to access credit which enable them to undertake farm operations as at when due. The NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1, 1 31

6 Published March, 1 Akangbe, et al., 1 beneficiaries also access new technology on production, increases social interaction. It has also generated employment and increase food availability. It encourages women participation in agricultural development. The project has the potential to eliminate rural-urban exodus by empowering the rural dwellers through increase farm output, income and improvement in their livelihood. In the future, it is desirable to expand the scope of the project so that all categories of fadama users (crop, livestock, fish fold, etc.) benefit from the activities of the project especially those having bearing with input supply, processing storage, marketing opportunities, provision of irrigation to facilitate all year round farming. Fadama project has the potential to increase food availability, income and employment generation. RECOMMENDATIONS i. The scope of the project should be expanded to cover all the Local Government Areas in the state so that none farmers can participate, if self sufficiency in food production is to be realized. ii. The Federal Government through the National Assemble should increase the tempo of Land reform on the country. Access to agricultural land ranks high in constraint to Fadama and Non-Fadama beneficiaries. This is to increase farmers farm size. iii. All farmers should be given to access credit for farm expansion and purchase of farm input. This is to encourage the use of farm inputs as recommended by research. iv. Farmers should embrace bulk purchase of farm inputs in order to reduce cost. v. Regular soil test should be carried out in Fadama sites. This will guide application of organic/inorganic fertilizer and to ascertain the level of soil acidity. vi. Livestock and fisheries producer should be given a production package to assist them to increase livestock production. vii. The Fadama project should assist the farmer to assess quality seed. REFERENCES Ayanda, T. F. 8. Impact of special rice Project on socio-economic status of Rice farmers in Kwara State Nigeria. A Ph.D Thesis submitted to facility of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Edache, O. 6. Presentation at the fifth Nigerian Economic submit, Abuja. The Punch Vol. 7 No pp. 1. Fajana, L. O.. Progress Report on seed production, Processing and Storage Activities in National Seed Services (NNS). Report Presented at the National Council on Agriculture Meeting, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria February,. Ingawa, S. 8. New Agricultural Technologies Adopted from China. Message Delivered at a workshop for North Fast and North West State of Nigeria Nigerian Tribune No. 13, 714 September 1, 8 pg. 1. Liberatos, P., Link, O. and J. Kelsey The measurement of Social Class in epidemiology. Epidemiol Rev , 87S11. Nwanze, K. F. N.. Reducing Total Rice Import Bills (in) Emeozer Rising up for Rice Revolution Daily Sun, October pp. 33. Ostrom, E. 4. Collective action and property right for sustainable development; understanding collective action; Meinzier-Dick, R. and M. Di-Gregorio. Collective action for sustainable development, focus II, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington D.C., Oyo State Fadama Development Office 7. Beneficiary Impact Assessment of Second National Development Project in Oyo State. Sarah, G.. Long-Term Prospect for food security in Africa. The Nigeria Economic Submit Group, 4 th Agricultural summit. Sayyaid, A. R. 8. Hunger Imminent The Tribune, April 16, 8, pp. 1. Tsado, J. H. 4. Women s Involvement in farming Activities and Household food Security in Dako Local Government Area of Niger State M.Sc. Thesis submitted to Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1, 1 3