Abstract

The Anchor Borrowers' Programme (ABP) was launched to boost rice production in North-Central Nigeria. Despite its potential, the effectiveness of the initiative is uncertain as farmers’ attitudes towards the programme may affect its success, yet there is limited empirical research in this direction. Hence, attitude of rice farmers towards ABP in North-Central, Nigeria was investigated. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 157 respondents for the study. Interview schedules were used to elicit responses on respondents' socioeconomic characteristics, attitude towards ABP, and constraints to sustainability of ABP. Data were analysed using mean, and percentages. Findings showed that respondents were averagely 42 years old; majority (73.2%) were male; married (64.3%); with average farm sizes of 3.3±1.0ha, while they earned an average of ?696,817.8 annually. About 55.41% of the respondents had favourable attitude towards ABP. The ABP implementation was constrained by poor farmers involvement in decision-making (1.6±0.6); communal crises/farmers-herder conflicts (1.6±0.6); delay in loan disbursement (1.6±0.6); poor extension service component (1.54±0.60); side selling of farm produce by farmers after harvest (1.54±0.62). The study recommends favourable attitudes of farmers towards the programme should be complimented with timely disbursement of input/credits and substantial participation of farmers in decision-making.

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