FADAMA III ADDITIONAL FINANCING PROJECT AND WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM CASSAVA PRODUCERS IN EKITI STATE

• D. A. Babalola

  Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

  Author

• O. B. Osuntade

  Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

  Author

• P. O. Adeleye

  Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

  Author

Development of the cassava enterprise is sine qua non to facilitating its economic empowerment potential and achieving the sustainable development goals. The goal of the Fadama III Additional Financing (FIII-AF) project in Nigeria is to facilitate economic empowerment especially among the female farmers. This study assessed the influence of FIII-AF project on economic empowerment of women cassava producer in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Information for the study was collected from 120 female farmers (60 adopters and 60 non-adopters of the FIII-AF project) selected using multi-stage sampling procedure. The gross margin analysis was applied to evaluate profitability (proxy for economic empowerment).The logit regression model was used to determine factors influencing adoptionof the FIII-AF project. All analyses were set at P<0.05. Descriptive results show that the adopters of FIII-AF project were more educated, cultivated larger hectares and involved in cooperatives than nonadopters. Average gross margin per hectare for the adopters (N97,696≈ $269) was significantly higher than the non-adopters (N58,052≈$160) indicating that the project has potential for economic empowerment. Factors found to significantly influence adoption of FIII-AFproject included household size, rent paid on farm holding, farming experience and cooperative participation. Sensitizing and encouraging female farmers' participation in the FIII-AF project is pertinent. Furthermore, farmers' participation in cooperative activities will increase adoption rate for the project.

1. D. A. Babalola, Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

   Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

2. O. B. Osuntade, Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

   Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

3. P. O. Adeleye, Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

   Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University

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