CHALLENGES MILITATING AGAINST INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (IFAD) IN IMPLEMENTING RURAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

The study investigates the challenges hindering the effective implementation of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) rural agricultural development projects in Nigeria, particularly focusing on Borno, Kano, and Jigawa States. The necessity for this study arises from the persistent issues affecting agricultural growth in these regions, despite IFAD’s financial and technical support. The objective of the study is to explore the barriers faced by IFAD in ensuring the success of its projects, with an emphasis on understanding local contextual factors. A survey method was utilized, employing both questionnaires and interviews to gather data. The questionnaire responses were analyzed using simple percentage to ensure clarity, while qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews was conducted through content analysis. The Planned Behavior Theory was adopted to frame the study, justifying its relevance in understanding how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control influence project implementation outcomes. The findings revealed critical challenges, including corruption, bureaucratic bottlenecks, policy inconsistency, and the exclusion of farmers in decision-making processes. Based on these findings, two key recommendations were made: enhancing transparency and accountability mechanisms to combat corruption and increasing farmers' participation in the design and execution of agricultural projects to improve their effectiveness and sustainability. This research uniquely contributes to knowledge by providing a state-specific analysis of IFAD’s implementation challenges, integrating behavioral insights into agricultural policy discussions, and offering a more practical approach than previous broad-based studies on rural development.