Sustainability of Irrigated Rice Production among Beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrowers Programme in Patigi Local Government Area, Kwara State

Abstract

This study examined the sustainability of irrigated rice production among beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed farmers’ perceptions of rice yield before and after the implementation of the progarmme and evaluated the impact of ABP in terms of income on farmers’ welfare. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 300 respondents representing 10% of the total 3,000 beneficiaries reported by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in the 2021/2022 farming cycle. A purposive sampling technique was employed across the three districts of Patigi LGA. Descriptive statistics (simple percentages and frequency distributions) and inferential statistics (stepwise multiple regression analysis) were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that all respondents were male, with 68.67% married and 94.33% under the age of 50. A significant proportion (60.33%) had household sizes ranging between 11 and 20 persons, while 16.67% had no formal education. Most respondents (79.0%) cultivated between 1 and 8 hectares of land, with only 46.33% owning the land the farmed. Furthermore, only 13% had less than 20years of farming experience. In terms of rice yield, prior to ABP, 83.33% of farmers produced 30 bags or fewer, while only 1.67% exceeded 30 bags. After the implementation of the programme, 60.33% of farmers reported yields above 30 bags, indicating a significant improvement in productivity. The regression analysis showed that 94.5% of the variation in irrigated rice production was explained by key variables such as labour input, land ownership, payment of medical bills, household size, increase in median income, farming experience, loan repayment capacity, age, and expenditure on children’s education. The study concludes that the ABP has significantly improved rice production, income, and welfare of farmers in the study area, indicating its potential for sustainability. It recommends that continued participation in irrigated rice farming, supported by similar programmes could enhance food security and rural development. The success observed in Patigi can also serve as a replicable model for other rice-growing regions in Nigeria.