ABSTRACT

The study examined Anchor Borrowers' Programme (ABP) and Rice Production in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State. The study was built on three major objectives: to examine the impact of the Anchor Borrowers' Programme on income among smallholder farmers in Gwer East, to ascertain if the Anchor Borrowers' Programme has assisted rural smallholder farmers to engage in mechanized rice production in Gwer East, and to explore challenges faced by the Anchor Borrowers' Programme in Rice Production in Gwer East. A purposive sampling procedure was used in selecting the respondents. A structured questionnaire was administered to 400 rural farmers across Gwer East Local Government Area to obtain information on farmer's socioeconomic variables, input used, and output obtained in rice production. The objective was analyzed using a frequency table and simple percentages, while the data from the interview was done qualitatively to validate or invalidate quantitative data. The study also found that all the production factors used by rice farmers among Anchor Borrowers' beneficiaries had a positive influence on the productivity levels of the rice farmers. Hence, productivity among rice farmers depends largely on their production factors. The program should consider planting seasons in the disbursement of inputs, as the late arrival of inputs could negate all the efforts of the program. If the inputs are not disbursed on time, it could affect yields because farmers depend on rainfall for rice production. Everything could be done right, but if inputs are not disbursed on time, it will make the objectives of the program unachievable. Executors of the program are responsible for this and should consider it one of the most important issues with the program.