Enhancing Crop Yields through Credit Access among Female Smallholder Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Limited access to credit remains one of the most significant structural barriers to agricultural transformation in developing economies, especially for female smallholder farmers. Without the financial tools necessary to invest in quality inputs, technologies, and markets, these women find themselves trapped in cycles of low productivity and poverty. This study examined how access to credit enhanced crop yields among female smallholder farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Theories of Financial Inclusion Delivery (Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The study employed descriptive quantitative research design. Using a multi-stage sampling procedure, 295 respondents were randomly selected from the 1,228 female smallholder farmers belonging to the female farmer organizations across eight LGAs of Ogun State. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Findings revealed a significant relationship between credit access and crop yield (β = 0.521, p < 0.001), further demonstrating that credit access is a strong predictor of crop yield among female smallholder farmers. The study concluded that credit access was a critical determinant of crop yield; by enhancing financial access, female smallholder farmers can increase their productivity, improve their livelihoods, and contribute more effectively to food security and economic development in Ogun State. The study therefore recommended that Policies should focus on reducing gender-based barriers to financial access, ensuring equal opportunities for female farmers to benefit from credit facilities, agricultural grants, and financial inclusion programs