Farmers' participation in the National Accelerated Food Production Project (NAFPP) in Nigeria

Abstract

A limited dependent-variable model is employed to determine factors influencing farmers in making decisions about whether or not to participate in the National Accelerated Food Production Project Scheme (a voluntary scheme launched in Nigeria to make the country self-sufficient in food production) and the number of farm practices adopted from its technological package for those who do participate. The empirical results of the study indicate that the probability of a farmer participating in the NAFPP Scheme and the number of farm practices adopted can be influenced by farm size, the farmer's age and his ability to read and write, his membership of a farmers' co-operative society, the frequency of his contact with extension agents and his ability to acquire credit. In addition, it is estimated that age and membership of a co-operative society have a greater effect on the probability that a farmer will participate in the scheme while other factors have a greater effect on the number of farm practices adopted for those who do participate. As a consequence, land reform and mass literacy policies are recommended to enhance farmers' participation in the NAFPP Scheme. It is also suggested that policies that encourage farmers to form and participate actively in the activities of their local co-operative societies, liberalise credit facilities and increase the number of agricultural extension agents are likely to enhance farmers' active participation in the Scheme, which may result in increasing food production in the country.