Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) credit supply on rural farmers in Rivers state. Data for the study were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 90 farmer’s beneficiaries using a multi-stage sampling technique. The regression result shows that semi-log function gave the best fit with the highest value of coefficient of multiple determinations (R²) of 0.8758 and seven explanatory variables were significant and there was a significant F-value. The significant variables are farm size, off-farm income, total household labour, educational level of farmer, gender, farm household size, and IFAD credit. The study also shows that IFAD credit impacted positively on the well-being of rural farmers. The IFAD programme has contributed to the increase in farm output and income. The study recommended that IFAD and their collaborating government agencies should expand their credit delivery in the study area to enable more farmers benefit from their services. Also, training programmes should be organized for all farmers in view of the fact that education produces significant influence on the income of the farmers.

Key words: Credit supply, rural farmers, international fund for agricultural development (IFAD), Rivers state.