IMPACT OF NATIONAL FADAMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of National Fadama Development Project (NFDP) on agricultural Production in Taraba State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the: patterns of distribution of the Project (NFDP); Factors responsible for the distribution of the project (NFDP); spatial impact of the project (NFDP) on agricultural production and trend in agricultural production within the period of implementation of the Project (NFDP). The study adopted a survey research, and the population comprised of 27,376 participants of the Project (NFDP), sample size is 400. Questionnaire were used for data collection, the internal consistency of the questionnaire were tested using cronbach alpha index, it indicates a reliability coefficient of .857 and .761 for the two clusters and an overall coefficient of .804, this depicts the instrument as reliable. The coordinates of the Project (NFDP) was recorded using Garmin GPS receiver for the purpose of geo-referencing and location of sub-projects. Data were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), mean interpretation was done inline of 5-points likert-type scale, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed to test the two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results from the test of the null hypotheses shows that, the Project (NFDP) is not evenly distributed, the project (NFDP) is cluster in certain parts of the state and disperse in some areas. This is due to: efficient awareness campaign, availability of fadama land, increase in income of fadama users. Also, findings from this study indicate a significant improvement in agricultural production in few places in Taraba State, and crop production increases, substantially. The study recommends; public awareness campaign on the project (NFDP) be intensified across the study area, and advisory service be extended to rural areas. Implementation of sub-projects be supervised, effectively.