ABSTRACT

The study carried out comparative analysis of sorghum production among participants and non-participants of FADAMA III AF in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Primary data were used for this study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total sample size of five hundred and sixty-one (561) sorghum farmers comprising two hundred and thirty-eight (238) and three hundred and twenty-three (323) sorghum farmers who were FADAMA III AF participants and non – participants respectively in the study area. Data collected were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics, Farm Budgetary Technique, Financial Analysis, Total Factor Productivity Index, Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Farm Household Income Exchange, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Chow-Test Analysis, and t-test Analysis. The results of the reliability test gave a Cronbach’s alphas of 0.7480 (74.80%), which suggest that the data collected was reliable. From the results, majority of the sorghum farmers were female and married. The mean age was highest for participants (42 years), followed by pooled data (40 years) and less (39 years) for non-participants of FADAMA III Additional-Financing. The gross margin ratio was highest for participant (76%), higher for pooled data (74%) and high for non-participants of FADAMA III Additional-Financing. The average total factor productivity was 0.82, 1.68 and 1.19 for non-participants and participants of FADAMA III AF, and pooled data respectively. Furthermore, the result from the welfare analysis revealed that the farmer household income exchange was 1.8, 2.38 and 2.09 for non-participants, participants, and pooled data respectively. Also, 93%, 84%, and 88.06% of the participants and non – participants of FADAMA III AF, and pooled data respectively have prospered from sorghum production. The result of the Probit regression analysis revealed that sex, marital status, level of education, and farm size significantly influenced the welfare of sorghum farmers who were participants of FADAMA III AF while marital status, household size, and level of education significantly influenced the welfare of non – participants of FADAMA III AF in the study area. When pooled, the results posit that marital status, level of education, and farm size were the significant factors influencing welfare of sorghum farmers. The stochastic frontier model revealed that seed input, agrochemical inputs and labour inputs significantly influence the productivity of participants of FADAMA III AF while farm size, seed input, and agrochemicals significantly influence the productivity of the non – participants of FADAMA III AF in the study area. Pooled data revealed that farm size, seed input, agrochemical inputs and labour inputs significantly influence the productivity of the sorghum farmers. The socio-economic factors that influence productivity was extension contact for non – participants of FADAMA III AF, level of education and household size for participants of FADAMA III AF and household size for pooled data. The principal component analysis for constraints faced by the farmers in implementing FADAMA III AF technologies shows that farmer – herder clashes, inadequate funds and bureaucracy in accessing credit facilities are major factors. Most (40%) of the farmers believe the best solution to these constraints, is the provision of loans and grazing reserves for farmers. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that sorghum production has significantly influenced the welfare of sorghum farmers who were participants of FADAMA III AF. The farmers who participated in FADAMA III AF had higher productivity and return on investment than those who did not participate in the project. Based on the findings, the study recommended that government should make loans and credit facilities available and more accessible to farmers. Also, the process of acquiring loans should be simplified for the farmers in order to improve the level of production and the welfare of the farmers. Inputs including fertilizers, herbicides, and improved seeds should be made available to sorghum farmers at the appropriate time and at affordable prices. Furthermore, the government should see to the resolution of the farmer-herder clashes by providing grazing reserves for herders.