BENEFITS OF FADAMA III PROJECT TO ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the benefits derived from Fadama III project by arable crop farmers in Surulere local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 154 respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and mean were used to analyze the demographic characteristics of the respondents. However, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) were used to test the relationships that exist between socio economics and benefits derived. Result showed that 73.4% of the respondents were male. The mean age was 47.8 years. About 94.2% of the respondents benefitted from improved seeds/seedlings while 85.7% benefitted from fertilizer subsidy. About 94.0% experienced delay in receiving fund from the project office. Pearson Product Moment Correlation revealed that a significant but negative relationship exists between constraints faced (r = -0.0199, p < 0.05) and benefit derived by Fadama III arable crop farmers in the study area. The Constraints deprived the beneficiaries of some benefits inherent in the project. This study therefore recommended that project officers, including some groups’ officers must be adequately monitored to enable them deliver their assigned services and responsibilities efficiently and effectively.