EFFECT OF ROAD TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOFT LOANS ON FARMERS PRODUCTIVITY IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract:The challenges confronting rural areas especially among under-developed countries are
enormous and cut across all spheres of life. Hard infrastructure such as road, machinery which
could enhance accessibility to soft loans by farmers is in bad state. Previous literatures have focus
on impact of road transport infrastructure on farmers’ productivity without holistic view on
emphasis on effect of road transport infrastructure and soft loan infrastructure on farmers’
productivity. Therefore, this research will investigate impact of road transport infrastructure and
soft loan on farmers’ productivity with the aim of examine impact of soft loan on farmers’
productivity in Ogun State. Stratify sampling technique was employed to stratify Obafemi/Owode
local Government into three (3) zones (i.e Obafemi, Owode and Oba zone). At stage two, 2% of
the villages in each of the zone were purposively selected. At stage three, 25% of the registered
household was random selected. Descriptive and multiple regressions were employed to analyse
the data. Findings reveled that soft loan has significant impact on farmers’ productivity (F-ratio=
147.324, P-value = 0.000 and R2= 82%). The descriptive analysis shows that the delay in
transportation results in wastage of agricultural produce which induce discouragement to
farmers. It was concluded soft loan that could boost farmers’ productivity and also reverse rural urban migration were distorted by poor rural road infrastructure. Therefore, it was
recommended that, Villagers along the same route should embrace self-help by putting sand and
stone on the affected part along the route. A handful big size stone should be jointly spread by
the villagers on a muddy portion of the road for easy accessibility. Provision of soft loan should
be embraced by all buyers to farmers. This will assist farmers in no small measure, as it does not
attract interest nor difficulty procedure in getting the loan and also re-payment.
Download File [ 0.42 MB ]