The Multiple Effect of Agricultural Development Programme's (ADP's) Small Plot Adoption Technique (SPAT) on Smallholder Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper determined the multiplier effects of the use of Small Plot Adoption Technique (SPAT) by the Abia ADP on the income of Smallholder farmers in Abia State. The choice of Abia ADP for this research was purposive. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used in the selection of blocks, circles, 300 contact and non-contact farmers respectively from the three agricultural zones (Aba, Ohafia and Umuahia) of Abia
State, Nigeria. Instrument of data collection was via three sets of structured and pre-tested questionnaires administered serially from 2000 – 2004. the results show that one Naira (N1.00) investment by Abia ADP in planting materials/seeds and transferred to small holder farmers through SPAT generated N2.80 mean income to the contact farmers and N1.80 mean income to non-contact farmers between 2000 – 2004. The research identified poor rural infrastructure, high cost of composite inputs, and late inputs delivery among others as
problems militating against rural smallholder farmers in the use of SPAT. It is therefore recommended that increased political will and support by government to the ADP and introduction of higher level of subsidy schemes on agro-inputs as some measure to motivate the farmers.

Keywords: Multiplier, Smallholder, Adoption, Agricultural Development

Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 41-51