BANK OF AGRICULTURE AND CROP PRODUCTION IN UKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE-NIGERIA

Abstract

The major objective of the study was to assess the contributions of Bank of Agriculture Limited to crop production in Ukum Local Government Area, Benue state. A sample 81 beneficiaries were obtained through cluster sampling. Questionnaire was used to collect data while frequencies and percentages, means and standard deviation and t-test statistic were used to analyze data. The study
discovered that funds or loans (32.5%) were popular services rendered by the bank while least services were funds and farm inputs with (1.3%). The bank contributed moderately (51.9%) to crop production. There was no significant increase in crop production as t value of -3.132 was significantly less than critical value 0.002 (P>0.05). Crops produced through the intervention of the bank included
yam tubers, rice, soybeans, produced maize, beans, groundnuts and improved cassava stems. Some of the challenges faced by BOA in crop production in the study area included delay or late arrival of inputs (19.5%), corruption of the officials (10.5%), communal conflicts and banditry happening in the area (6.5%). The study, therefore, recommended early supply of farm inputs and assistance during
farming season, creation of proper awareness about existence of their programmes and assistance available to the farmers, monitoring and supervision of farming activities of farmers who are their beneficiaries and addressing insecurity situation in the area.