SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCING FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE E-WALLET SCHEME IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

  • : Ms Word, Ms Word Format
  • : 87 Pages
  • : ₦3,000 | $25 | ₵60 | Ksh 2720
  • : 1-5 Chapters
  •  
  • Click to DOWNLOAD Materials

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCING FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE E-WALLET SCHEME IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract:

This study examined socio-economic and institutional factors influencing farmers’ perception of the e-wallet scheme. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 189 respondents for the study from two of the four ADP zones in Kaduna state. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data obtained using structured questionnaires. Results revealed that majority of respondents were youths between 26 and 46 years. Average age and household size of respondents was 37 years and 7 persons respectively. Although most farmers had few (<4) contacts with extension agents, 90% of them were aware of the Growth Enhancement Scheme/E-wallet while 60% had access to inputs through the scheme. More farmers (46%) utilized the fertilizer component of the scheme as compared to only 16% that utilized the seed component. Multiple regression result on socioeconomic influence on perception indicated that age, education and membership of cooperative were significant at 1% significance level while farm size and extension contact were significant at 5%. The hypothesis that “there is no significant relationship between farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and perception” was therefore rejected. Bureaucracy ranked as the most important constraint to effective utilization of inputs through the scheme, shortage, inadequacy and late arrival of inputs were still identified as constraints despite efforts put in place under the scheme to reduce exploitative tendencies of middle men. For the GES/E-wallet to be effective, the study suggested that input allocation modalities be reviewed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure farmers get inputs that are sufficient for their scale of operation and on time, rather than giving all farmers a blanket-treatment of two bags (100kg) of fertilizer. The study contributed to knowledge by revealing high rate (96%) of mobile phone ownership among farmers which could easily be exploited by the Government and other Private Agencies in delivery of mobile phone-based agricultural extension services to farmers, thereby helping to bridge the existing ratio gap between extension agents to farm family. The study also revealed an increase in the number (60%) of farmers who had access to subsidized inputs as compared to (30%) reported from previous subsidy schemes.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCING FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE E-WALLET SCHEME IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Sharing is caring!

Leave a Reply