EFFECT OF FIN-TECH ADOPTION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF RICE FARMERS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Financial technology has been identified as having great potential to enhance agricultural growth and development, but the constraints associated with its adoption are enormous for poor smallholder farmers. Thus, this study examined the effect of fin-tech adoption on the performance of rice farmers in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling method was used. Four Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest rice cultivation were purposively selected. Two villages were randomly selected from the LGAs, of which 13 farmers were randomly selected. Totaling 104 farmers in all. Data was collected with a well-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive: mean, frequency and composite score; inferential statistics: T-test and logit regression model. The results showed that the farmers were aware of digital banking services with a mean awareness ranking of automated machine (x=3.11+ 0.40). There is a significant difference in the rice yield of fin-tech adopters and non-adopters at 1% significance level. Determinants of adoption of fin-tech@ were age, household size, farm size remittances and cooperative 5% membership. The study recommends provision of required amenities for effective adoption of fin-tech.