ABSTRACT

The study analyzed effect of the Third National Fadama Additional Financing project on the output and poverty levels of rice farmers in Enugu state, Nigeria. Specifically the study,described socio-economic characteristics of Fadama and non-Fadama farmers, ascertained the levels of adoption of rice production technologies among Fadama farmers, assessed perception of respondents on the project activities, estimated output levels of Fadama and non-Fadama farmers, ascertained poverty levels of both farmer groups and identified problems encountered by Fadama farmers in rice production. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 240 respondents (120 Fadama and 120 non-Fadama farmers). Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire and field observation and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (ordinary least square regression and Z-test analyses). The major results showed that 60% (Fadama farmers) and 6 1.7% (non-Fadama) farmers were males, with mean ages of 42.7 years (Fadama farmers) and 49.2years (nonFadama farmers), while both farmer groups had mean household sizes of 6 persons, Fadama farmers) and mean annual income from 479, 398.37 (Fadama farmers) and N179,426.80(non - Fadama farmers). The result also showed that Fadama farmers had an adoption index of 64% of rice production technologies and favourable perception (X=3.7) of the project activities. The result indicate that Fadama farmers had mean rice output 2014.58kg/ha as against 802.50kg/ha for non-Fadama farmers.The result of poverty status showed that about 67% and 71% of Fadama and non — Fadama farmers were poor, while 53% (Fadama farmers) and 49% (non—Fadama farmers) were non poor. The multiple regression result showed that coefficients for gender, marital status, education and labour cost influenced Fadama farmer's rice output in the study area while. age, household size, farm income and labour cost influenced non - Fadama farmer's rice output in the study area. The results of the Z-test on rice output and poverty levels showed that there was a significant difference between rice output and poverty levels of Fadama and non — Fadama rice farmers at 1% level of probability in the study area. Lack of storage facilities, late anival of farm inputs and administrative bottlenecks and bureaucracy in releasing of counterpart funds and non-payment of counterpart funds by state and local governments were major problems affecting rice production of Fadama farmers in the study area. The study recommends prompt delivery of farm inputs, payment of counterpart funds by Federal, State and Local Governments, extension campaign to encourage young rice farmers engage in rice farming and replication of the project to communities in order to increase rice output and reduce poverty