ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING SMALL-SCALE POULTRY FARMERS' ACCESS TO LOANS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

The study examined small-scale poultry farmers’ access to loans for poultry production in North Central Nigeria. Primary data were collected using questionnaires from the smallscale poultry farmers in the study area, while a random sampling technique was used to select 600 small-scale poultry farmers. Descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies) and logistic regression were employed to achieve the study's objectives. Most (63.8%) of the respondents were male, and most (75%) were married. About 65.3% of the farmers had post-secondary education, while only 42.8% of them were members of cooperative societies. The average age of the farmers was 43 years, the mean household size was 6, and the average years of experience in poultry farming was 8 years. The average amount of interest paid by farmers on loans was N30,380.68 while the average loan repayment period was 3 months. The major constraint faced by the farmers in accessing loans in the study area was inadequate information on sources of loans. The study concluded that agricultural financing plays a critical role in improving poultry production. Hence, the study recommended that small-scale poultry farmers in northcentral Nigeria should be sensitised on sources of loans available for poultry production by Agricultural extension agents.