The Aftermath of the Withdrawal of the World Bank Counterpart Funding for the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT The involvement of the World Bank in the funding of the Nigerian Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) has shown that a properly functioning extension service with positively disposed government policy can help transform agriculture in the country. This study used data from ninety-six (96) farmers and sixteen (16) extension officers of the Ogun State ADP to examine the implications and aftermath of the withdrawal of the World Bank counterpart funding of the Ogun State ADP. The study established that a large part (44.1%) of OGADEP funding was received from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) after the withdrawal of the World Bank fund. It also established a reduction in both State and Federal Government commitment to the funding of OGADEP following the withdrawal of the World Bank loan. The study also found that earlier emphasis on capital expenditure in the programme had now given way to recurrent expenditure arising from increases in the cost of maintenance of capital items. Descriptive statistics and rating were used to highlight the funding profile and expenditure patterns and performance of OGADEP extension services before and after the withdrawal of the World Bank funding arrangement. Null hypotheses were tested using the statistic-Wilcoxon (T) test based on ranked differences between the measures of matched pairs. The hypotheses tested in the study show that farmers access to extension services, the quality of extension officer's training and the overall performance of OGADEP are on the decline. Yet, 93.3% of the farmers and all the extension officers interviewed wants OGADEP retained as an extension agency. The study therefore recommends a comprehensive stakeholder involvement and private sector participation in the funding of the programme, involving all tiers of government, the private sector as well as the direct beneficiaries.