Determinants of rice Farmers’ Choice of marketing Outlet and Performance in FGN-IFAD Value Chain Development Programme in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study on determinants of rice farmers’ choice of marketing outlet and performance in FGN-IFAD Value Chain Development Programme in Anambra State, Nigeria, employed several analytical techniques to analyze the data collect from random sampling of 380 rice farmers. The analytical tools employed include multinomial logit, ordinary least square regression and principal component factor analysis. It was observed that age (2.35)** significantly influenced the choice of open market selection by participants, while farm size (1.97)** positively influenced it among the nonparticipants. For the selection of structured market; Sex (2.61)**, Age (2.98)***, Education (3.13)***, and Farming experience (2.15)** were significant for participants whereas; Education (3.91)***, Farming experience (2.81)**, Household size (2.56)**, and Farm size (2.57)** are the significant variables. The study further revealed that sex (11.92)***, level of education (14.06)***, and extension contacts (8.04)*** among others significantly influence ANSVCDP rice farmer’s performance, whereas; access to credit (1.97)**, fertilizer use (5.58)***, and household size (2.04)** among others influenced performance among non-beneficiaries of ANSVCDP. We further found that the rice farmers in ANSVCDP still struggle with unhealthy competition, price volatility, and poor infrastructure among others, while the non-participants faced more severe challenges including limited access to extension services, inadequate capital, poor education, and lack of standardization in market transactions among others. The author(s) therefore recommend the need to deepen and scale up VCDP interventions; particularly in areas of market linkages, and infrastructural development to bridge the commercialization gap and improve the standard of living of the rural poor farmers.