FARMERS’ ACCESS AND USE OF AGRICULTURAL CREDIT FACILITIES: A CASE OF ENUGU NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
Credit plays a pivotal role in agricultural development by enabling farmers to invest in productive activities and improve their livelihoods. This study assessed farmers’ access to and use of agricultural credit facilities in Enugu North Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. A multi-stage and purposive sampling technique was employed to select 72 farmers for the study. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that the major sources of credit available to farmers were friends and relatives (73.6%), cooperative societies (52.8%), and Isusu (thrift) groups (48.6%). The most accessible credit sources were friends and relatives (M = 2.89) and cooperative societies (M = 2.50). Farmers primarily utilized the credit obtained for planting operations (88.9%), purchase of seeds and seedlings (87.5%), agrochemicals such as fertilizers and insecticides (84.7%), land preparation (81.9%), and hiring of labour (77.8%). The study concluded that farmers had limited access to formal or institutional credit sources such as commercial and agricultural banks, which could significantly constrain agricultural development. It was therefore recommended that the government, through agricultural extension agents, should intensify efforts to sensitize farmers on credit sources, accessibility, effective utilization, repayment, and investment to enhance agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
Keywords: Agricultural development; credit access and use; agricultural credit facilities; credits in Nigeria
