ABSTRACT:

The study assessed the effects of NIRSAL on rice farmers income in North-Central Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed for selection of the 486 respondents. Primary data were collected with the use of well-structured questionnaires and analyzed using net farm income, farmers household income exchange, and quantile regression analysis. The estimate of profitability shows that rice production is a profitable venture in North-Central Nigeria, with beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries making a net farm income of ₦2,508,645.97 and ₦1,628,784.17, respectively. The result revealed a 32% increase in income of beneficiaries, which is attributed to the impact of the NIRSAL credit facilities on farmers’ income. The result of quantile regression analysis at 50% revealed that household size and age had a positive coefficient and were significant at a 1% probability level (P<0.01) for non-beneficiaries, beneficiaries, and pooled data. Farming experience had a negative coefficient and was significant (P<0.10) for pooled data. While the results at the 75% quantile revealed that household size had a positive coefficient and was significant at 1% and 5% probability levels for pooled data and non-beneficiaries, respectively. Age had a positive coefficient and was significant (P<0.01) for non-beneficiaries and pooled data. Level of education had a positive coefficient and was significant (P<0.05) for non-beneficiaries. Membership of the Cooperative Society had a positive coefficient and was significant (P<0.05) for beneficiaries. The study hereby concludes that NIRSAL has an impact on the income of smallholder rice farmers in north-central Nigeria and, as a result, recommends that NIRSAL should intensify as well as expand their scope of influence to ensure the impact the scheme has on farmers income reflects or translates to food self-sufficiency.