EFFECT OF MICRO CREDIT ON THE INCOME AND PRODUCTIVITY LEVEL OF POULTRY FARMERS (LAYERS) IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT The study was carried out to assess the effect of micro credit on layers poultry farmers in Akure South, and Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The study look into, examined and compared farmers (beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries) in terms of their income, who benefitted with those who did not benefit from any credit scheme. Data were collected from sampled farmers’ using a well-structured questionnaire administered to them. Multistage sampling technique was used for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select Akure South and Akure North Local government Area out of the 18 Local Government in the first stage. Simple random technique was use to select the respondent. A total of 80 respondents were interviewed all together. The data were analysed using frequency distribution, percentage, Tobit regression analysis, Multiple Linear regression model and T-test. The study shows that 40% of the respondents demand for credit, Result of the analysis showed that years of farming experience, Savings, household size, Amount of loan granted, had inverse relationship with the farmers’ income. The study also revealed that the average income of beneficiary farmers’ in the scheme was statistically higher than that of the non-beneficiary farmers’. The study recommend that government should intervene in the area of granting timely and adequate loan with low or No interest rate to farmers to increase the farmers productivity in terms of protein production. Farmers should as well use the fund given judiciously to utilize the purpose for which the loan is granted.