Assessment of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project in Bayelsa State. Specifically, the objectives were to: identify the socio-economic characteristics of LIFE-ND incubatees; assess the agricultural economic opportunities in LIFE-ND for program incubatees; assess the production and marketing infrastructure that support LIFE-ND; ascertain the effect of the programme on the livelihood of the incubatees and identify the constraints confronting incubatees’ in the LIFE-ND programme. Using a questionnaire, information was gathered. A total of two hundred and fifty (250) incubatees were interviewed. Data collected were analysed with the use of percentage, mean scores and regression analysis. Findings showed that majority of the incubatees (53.2% ) were females between the ages of 31 – 40 years (43.6%), were married (53.2%), had tertiary education (37.2%), household size of 1-4 persons (43.2%). Results of the effect of the programme on the livelihood of the incubatees were: increased income (x ̅=3.29), provision of source of livelihood (x ̅=3.11), provision of source of livelihood and employment (x ̅=3.04). The result of the socio-economic factors influencing participation showed that sex, educational level, household size, income and major occupation were the significant factors that influenced the level of participation in LIFE-ND project at P≤0.05. The major constraints confronting incubatees were: inadequate funding (x ̅=2.91), long distance to training centres (x ̅=2.90), inadequate inputs (x ̅=2.88), untimely release of funds (x ̅=2.84), corruption (x ̅=2.82) etc. The study recommends that adequate inpus should be made available for incubatees to fast track the learning and practical process.