ECONOMIC IMPACT OF VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ON FOOD SECURITY OF RICE FARMERS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated economic impact of value chain development programme (VCDP) on food security of rice farmers in Nigeria. Data of primary sources were used. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total sample size of 292 rice farmers which comprises of 155 value chain development program beneficiaries and 137 non- beneficiaries. Data were analyzed using the following tools: descriptive statistics, food security index, Logit dichotomous regression model, F-Chow test, and t-test. About 61% and 27% of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of value chain development program were food secured based on head count ratio. The 23 MCFE for beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were 13203.954 Naira and 4759.605 Naira respectively. Gender (P< 0.10), household size (P< 0.01), farm experience (P< 0.10), access to credit (P< 0.05), and labour input (P< 0.10), were the significant factors influencing food security among the rice VCDP beneficiaries. The F-Chow test conducted reveals that the VCDP impacted positively on food security of rice farmers. The study recommends that interest rate free loans or low-interest loans should be made available to rice farmers to increase production and food security.