PERCEPTION OF BENEFICIARY RICE FARMERS ON THE CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE VALUE CHAIN PROGRAMME IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study aimed at determining perceived changes brought about on their livelihood on the intervention of the value chain development programme in Anambra State. The survey design was adopted for the study. Multi stage sampling procedure involving purposive and simple random sampling technique was used to select 240 respondents for the study. Date was obtained from the farmers through the use of questionnaire and structured interview. The data collected was analyzed using the descriptive statistics. Such as the mean and the standard deviation. The study revealed that the programme brought numerous changes in the beneficiaries’ livelihood. These changes includes but not limited to increased income of the beneficiaries (Ẋ = 3.37), influenced satisfaction of the basic needs (foods, shelter) (Ẋ = 3.00), Poverty reduction (Ẋ - 2.88), increase in farm yields (Ẋ =2.80), improved working experience (Ẋ = 2.77), financial independence (Ẋ -2.73), improved standard of living (Ẋ = 2.67) and access to trainings (Ẋ = 2.56). It was recommended among others that adequate orientation on the relevance of the value chain development programme should be made through the mass media and other public enlightenment forum to encourage massive participation on the programme by the populace especially the rice farmers.