EFFECTS OF FADAMA III PROJECT ON RURAL RICE FARMERS IN YOLA -NORTHLOCALGOVERNMENTAREAOFADAMAWASTATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the effects of Fadama lll on rural rice farmers in Yola-North LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The objectives are to; described the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, Estimate the cost and returns of Fadama and non-Fadama participants, to assess the change in output and to assess the change in income among the respondents. One hundred and twenty four (124) respondents were selected from bene iciaries and non-bene iciaries of the project through multi stage and purposive random sampling. Structured questionnaire were used to obtained data on the Socio-economic characteristics, Cost and Returns, Change in output and Change in income. The data were analysed using Descriptive and inferential statistics. The indings reveals that majority of the respondents weremales (71.4%) andmarried (69.6}.These categories of respondents are in their productive ages (30 – 39 and 40 – 49) capable of engaging in farming activities and they account for 64 % whom are the majority. Revenue generated by the bene iciaries is higher than that of the non-bene iciaries as revealed by the Gross margin analysis, likewise the T-test showed the mean Income of the bene iciaries was higher compared to that of the non-bene iciaries even though the difference was not signi icant at p=0.05 .Despite the fact that the project hadmade little impact on the living conditions of the bene iciaries, it is recommended that it should be continue in order to ensure sustained income and revenue generation.


INTRODUCTION
Self-suf iciency in food production based only in rain fed agriculture is dif icult to achieve. This is particularly true for Nigeria. So, for self-suf iciency in food Production, there is need to extend the farming season beyond the rainy season through irrigated agriculture (Anambra State Agricultural Development Project -ASADEP, . To ensure that this laudable objective of self-suf iciency in food production is achieved. The Federal Government approved the implementation of the national Fadama development project (Obiechina & B, 2000). The implementation of Fadama project ensures that agricultural production is carried on during both Seasons. Fadama is a Hausa word regarded as the low-lying lood-prone lands found in the plains of rivers. Fadama areas are composed of deposited sediments and contain exploitable aquifers (water tables). It involves preparation of low-lying areas and lood plains for crops, agroforestry and livestock production. The National Fadama Facility (NFF) was established under the NFDP loan No. 3541 UNI to assist Fadama development in the states that met the pre-determined eligibility criteria (Federal Agricultural Coordinating Unit -FACU 1995). The NFDP was approved for funding on March 26, 1992 for a loan of US $ 67.5Million. It was to build on the achievements of some of the Northern ADPs in developing small-scale irrigation through extraction of shallow ground water, Using low-cost petrol-driven pumps. It was intended to raise farmers' incomes and contribute to food security and poverty alleviation (World Bank 1990 The broad objective of NFDP III is poverty reduction through increase in the income of the bene iciaries on sustainable basis. The speci ic objectives of the project were to reduce rural poverty, ensure food security and contribute to the achievement of the key Millennium Development Goal of food security (Oriola, 2009). NFDP III relies on the facilitation of demand-driven investments and the empowerment of local community groups to improve farm and non-farm productivity and land quality. In Nigeria, many efforts have been made by successive government in order to improve living standard and quality of life of their citizens. These efforts are through programs such as; River Basin and Rural Development Authorities (RBDAs), Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Green Revolution, Better Life Programme (BLP), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP), National Programme on Food Security (NPFS), National Agricultural Support Programme (NASP), Agricultural Development Project (ADP), Nigerian Agriculture and Cooperative Bank (NACB) and so much more were established by the federal government. Some of which are still on going and others has gone morbid. Despite all these programs and projects established by the government, poverty still persisted. The establishment of Fadama II projects in 2004 recorded some success but covers only few states. The success recorded thus prompted the government to continue with Fadama III which covers all states of the nation. After the establishment of Fadama III, there are still traces of poverty among farmers in Yola North L.G.A. of Adamawa state. As a result of these, this study will like to assess the effects of the program on rice farmers in the study area through the following objectives-1. Describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; 2. Estimate the cost and returns of Fadama and non-Fadama participants; 3. To assess the change in output among the respondents and 4. To assess the change in income among the respondents

METHODOLOGY
Yola North is a local government in Adamawa state with administrative headquarters in the city of Jimeta. It forms a federal constituency alongside Girei and Yola South government areas. The city is situated on altitude 186m, located on the Benue River. Yola North local government area has an area of 113km2, making it the smallest local government area by landmass in Adamawa State, with a population of 199674 (NPC, 2010). Yola North's geographical coordinates are 9017'0" North, 12028'0" East. There are eleven wards in Yola North local government area namely; Ajiya, Alkalawa, Doubeli, Gwadabawa, Jambutu, Karewa, Limawa, Luggere, Nassarawo, Rumde and Yelwa.
The wet season is hot with clouds covering the sky and the dry season is hot and partly cloudy. It has the tropical wet climate also called tropical hinterland climate. Locally the climate is called High Plateau climate. The climate its into Aw of Koppen classi ication of climate. The precipitation varies 211mm between the driest month (January) and the wettest month (August). With an average of 32.1oC, April is the warmest month. December, the coldest month with temperature averaging 25.9oC. Rainfall is between 900 -1200mm per annum, with high relative humidity. Dry season lasts for a period of six months (November-April) and the wet season spans from May to October (Adebayo, 1999).
The dominant type of soil is the laterite soil. The soils are heavily leached due to rainfall. Major crops grown in the area includes rice, maize, sorghum, millet, soya beans and cassava, with maize as the most important food crop grown and consumed in the area.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
The population for this study comprises of registered Fadama III rice farmers and Non-registered rice farmers in Yola North. A multi stage and purposive random Sampling technique was employed for the study. In stage I, two area councils and a physically challenged Fadama Community observed with high practice of irrigation farming was selected namely: Rumde having six (6) groups each consisting of ifteen (15) members making a total of ninety (90) and Limawa having Five (5) groups each consisting ifteen (15) members making a total of seventy-ive (75). The physically challenged community having four (4) groups each consisting of ten (10) mem-bers making a total of forty (40). Stage II, Fadama III user group registered members was selected from each area council mentioned above respectively. Stage III, 30% of the population sample of the registered Fadama User Group members for each area council was used as sample size for the study. Respondents were selected proportionate to the numbers of Fadama III user groups in the area councils to make up for total sample size of sixty-two (62) respondents. Similar procedure was used to select sixty-two (62) non-bene iciaries with comparable socio-economic characteristics. In all, a total sample of one hundred and twenty-four (124) farmers was issued for this study but only one hundred and ifteen (115) were valid, nine were invalid. So, a total of one hundred and ifteen (115) was used for the study.

DATA ANALYSIS
Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used. Descriptive statistics involved; Frequency counts, mean, average and percentages was used to achieve objective (i). Gross margin was used to achieve objective (ii) and T-test was employed to compare the means from before and after the project between bene iciaries and Nonbene iciaries of the project to achieve objectives (iii and IV).
Gross margin is stated as GM = TR -TVC Where; GM = Gross margin (N) TVC = Total variable cost TR = Total Revenue Pro it were given by p = GM -TFC Where p = Pro it/ Net Farm Income GM = Gross margin TFC = Total Fixed cost The general formula for the T-test is given as: Where T= t-value X1 = the mean sample of bene iciary before the project X2 = the mean sample of bene iciaries after the project S12 = sample standard deviation for the bene iciary before International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH the project S22 = sample standard deviation for the bene iciary after the project n1 = sample size of bene iciary before the project n2 = sample size of bene iciary after the project

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Result of the indings of the effects of Fadama III project on rural rice farmers in Yola north Local Government Area, Adamawa State are discussed here. The data were obtained from Fadama III Bene iciaries and non-bene iciaries, on socio-economic characteristics, cost and returns of rice Sex -The results as presented in table 1 shows that majority (66.1%) of the beneiciaries were male, while 33.9% were Female. About 71.4% of the non-bene iciaries were male while 28.6% were females. This implies that the project allowed both the participation of male and female. This is consistent with the indings of Akangbe et al. (2012) in his study. The assessment of the effect of Fadama II on Livelihood of Farmers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State which reveals that majority of the respondents were male. 4.1.2 Age The respondents were also asked to indicate their ages, and as the study reveals in table 1, 37.3% of the bene iciaries were between the ages of 40 -49 years. About 27.1% were within the age of 50 -59 years. This was followed by 20.3% that were within the age of 30 -39 years, 10.2% that were of less than 30 years and 5.1 % were above 60 years. On the other hand, 30.4% of the non-bene iciaries where within the age of 40 -49 followed by 23.2% that were within 30 -39, 16.1% were less than 30 and 7.1% were above 60. This result agrees with the indings of Iwala (2014), that men and women of active and productive age are still prepondence in rural areas of Ondo state. Marital status-As the result also shows in table 2, majority of the bene iciaries (71.2%) and 69.6% of the non-bene iciaries were married. Others were 11.9% and 10.7% widowed, 10.2% and 3.6% divorced and 6.8% and 16.1 % singles for the bene iciaries and non-bene iciaries respectively. This implies that the bene iciaries have partners who could encourage them to participate in such programs to increase their income. This is in line with the result of Balogun et al., (2012). That the majority of the respondents were married and this implies that there is likely to be more family labour available for farm work. 4.

Level of Education
Majority of the bene iciaries (50.8%) had secondary education, 23.7% had no formal education, 10.2% had completed primary school and 15.3% had adult education (table 2.) Equally, the result for the non-bene iciaries shows that majority (58.9%) attended secondary school, while 16.1% had adult education 17.9% had primary education and 5.4% had no formal education. This implies that majority of the respondents attended one form of the formal education or the other. Similar Study by Balogun and Yusuf (2011). Also suggested that most of Fadama farmers (84.9%) possessed primary, secondary or tertiary education.
Household Size-Household size is an important factor because it determines the consumption pattern and supply of labour in traditional agriculture. The result in table 2 reveals that 44.1% of the bene iciaries had an average household size of between 6 -10. About 27.1% had 11 -16 household size, while (20.5%) had 1-5 household size and 8.5% had more than 17 household size. For the non-bene iciaries, about 42.9% had within 6 -10, 25% had within 1-5, 19.6% had within 11-16 and 12.5% had more than 17 household sizes. The implication of this is that the respondents had a fairly large household size which can be used as a source of farm labour.

COST AND RETURNS OF THE RESPONDENTS
The cost and returns analysis of rice production per hectare of farmland in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa state is contained in table 3 above. For the purpose of this study, the gross margin analysis and other pro itability ratios were used to determine the pro itability of rice production on 1 hectare farmland in the study area, comparing that of the Fadama III bene iciaries and the non bene iciaries. This is estimated by adding up the gross revenue less total variable cost. However, the study survey showed that total gross revenue of 352,000 is generated from sales of rice per hectare for the non-bene iciaries and 385,000 for the bene iciaries, showing a difference between them. The bene it cost ratio for the bene iciaries being 2.15 implies that for every N1 costs the farmers gets bene its of N2.15 while the nonbene iciaries gets N1.77 for every N1 costs. The margin ratio was estimated to be 0.53 for the bene iciaries which implies that for every N1 generated in the sales of rice, the farmer has N53 to cover basic operating costs and pro its while the non-bene iciaries gets N51 to cover basic operating costs and pro its for every N1 generated in the sales of rice. Based on the research conducted on the objective, the revenue generated by the bene iciaries is higher than that of the non-bene iciaries. This correspond with the indings of Madu andUmar (2011, 2013), who reported that yields among the bene iciaries have increased signi icantly due to adoption of proven technologies.

CHANGE IN FARM SIZE AND INCREASE IN OUTPUT
The result in Table 5 shows that the mean farm size of the bene iciaries and non beneiciaries were 1.99 and 1.83 respectively. The mean difference between the bene iciaries and non-bene iciaries was statistically signi icant at (p=0.05). This implies that bene iciaries appeared to have had relatively larger hectarage than non-bene iciaries. The reason for this differential farm size is as a result of support received from Fadama III project. On the other hand, the table reveals that the output of the bene iciaries were 36.28814 and 34.30357 respectively. There was no signi icant difference between the output of the bene iciaries and non-bene iciaries at P=0.05 as a result of adoption of the bene iciaries at P=0.05 as result of the adoption of the technologies induced by Fadama III project. This correspond with the indings of  Madu andUmar (2011, 2013), who reported that yields among the bene iciaries have increased signi icantly due to adoption of proven technologies introduced to them and that the project did not only in luence the direct bene iciaries but also has in luenced the non-bene iciaries living in Fadama III communities to adopt technologies.

Change in Income-
The result in table 3 shows that the mean annual income for the bene iciaries before the project was N 107, 633.9 compared to N 142, 077.6 after the project. This shows an increase in income of N 34,443.7 as a result of participation in the Project. This agrees with the indings of World Bank (2001), which reported that many studies have shown an increase in the income of the bene iciaries as a result of participating in Fadama project. Further analysis (t-test) indicates, that there was no signi icant difference in income increase between the bene iciaries and nonbene iciaries at P=0.05. This may not be unconnected with the spill-over effect, as the non-bene iciaries might have bene ited from the activities of the project.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The indings revealed that bene iciaries had higher income than the nonbene iciaries even though their means of income difference was not signi icant at p= 0.05. This indicates that the project has made a little positive impacts on the income of the bene iciaries in the study area. However, it was evident that the bene iciaries had adopted new technologies that were introduced by the project which has led to a signi icant increase in their output which found to be higher than that of the non-bene iciaries. Similarly the living condition of the bene iciaries had improved which showed in increased household assets, marrying more wives and increase in their nutritional intake which was signi icantly higher than the non-bene iciaries at p=0.05. It can be concluded that the project has made a little positive impact on the livelihood of the bene iciaries in Yola north Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria.From the foregoing results, therefore it was recommended that; Fadama III and its activities should be left to continue in order to insure sustained income generation and better level of living among the rural farmers. Education is a key factor in reduction of rural poverty in general, whether the household are headed by men or women, therefore, should be encouraged among rural farmers. There should be improved extension program in the study area so that farmers can be educated on how to use new technologies in other to increase rate of adoption of new technologies among farmers and conclusively Fadama III bene iciaries should be encouraged to diversify their sources of income in order to increase their income status and livelihood.