National Fadama Development Project III: Achievements and Constraints of Selected Beneficiary Farmers in Niger State

Abstract

This study assesses the impact of the third national Fadama development policy on poverty reduction among selected farmers in Niger State, by assessing the achievements and constraints faced by the beneficiaries. The study also adopted both quantitative and qualitative method of data analysis. The chi-square method of statistical analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The study discovered that Fadama III project was a success in increased income, daily expenditure, increased savings, improved diet, acquisition of personal properties, ability to send and sponsor children in schools, ability to purchase parcels of land amongst others. It was also discovered that the programme faces some challenges like insufficient disbursement of funds, problem of herdsmen, poor road network, and politicization of the programme among others. The study recommends that subsequent poverty and agricultural programmes should take the issue of providing farm machines to the farmers serious, sufficient funds in subsequent agricultural and poverty reduction programmes should be disbursed in time and poverty reduction programmes should not be politicized.