EVALUATING CASSAVA FARMERS’ LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FADAMA III-ADDITIONAL FINANCING PROJECT IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the cassava farmers’ level of participation in Fadama III- additional financing in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) cassava farmers were chosen through a multi-stage sampling procedure to participate in the Fadama III- additional financing project. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain primary data from 240 cassava farmers participating in Fadama III- additional financing project. A timetable for conducting interviews was utilized to gather primary data, which were then analyzed using basic statistical methods like frequency, percentage, mean, and Likert-type scale. The study's findings showed that the cassava farmers in the research region actively engaged in the creation of business plans need assessments, input and project distribution, and training sessions. It also demonstrated how cassava growers profited from better input availability, higher farm yields, workshops and training, bigger farms, easier access to market data, lower labour costs, and infrastructure support. The respondents cited several significant issues that impede agricultural productivity, including late arrival of inputs, the unsatisfactory attitude of some Fadama staff, lack of market information, inadequate communication channels, poverty, poor access to loans, and fear of crop failure and disease assault. To overcome the significant obstacle of late farm input arrival, it is highly recommended that governments at all levels and the World Bank guarantee the timely release of farm inputs to cassava farmers. This will encourage cassava farmers to actively participate in Fadama III- additional financing project in the study area.