Impact Assessment of FFBS Extension Approach on Small Farmers in Zamfara State Nigeria: Performance

Triming project under Component 3 Federal Ministry of Water Resources Nigeria is saddled with the responsibility of delivery of Agricultural extension services and value chain developments in collaboration with Zamfara Agricultural Development project ZADP an agency responsible for the provision of demand driven and participatory Agricultural Extension Services to small holder farmers in Bakolori irrigation scheme (BIS) has continued to deliver Agricultural Extension services meant to increase rice production and productivity of BIS farming communities using Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) extension approach.This is being achieved by building the capacity and skills of facilitators for effective and efficient delivery of rice production techniques. After seven years of the implementation of the project it is now time to assess the impact of the project on target beneficiaries in the 3 clusters. Namely Talatar Mafara, Bakura and Maradun respectively.Survey results regarding perception of respondents on yield increase before and after intervention revealed that before Triming project intervention farmers are getting between 50 - 60 bags/ha after the intervention farmers are now getting between 100 - 150 bags/ha. Results from Impact assessment demonstrate positive and significant project impact on market access. Timing project beneficiaries are more likely to sell their cultivated crops through a Formal Marketing channel. These results correspond with previous studies documenting the role of Market access to alleviate poverty through opening up opportunities for farmers to access productivity improving inputs and earning higher revenues from output sales. The study strongly recommend that farmers should be sensitized on the importance of sustainability among themselves and their communities, In order to continue to have access to information credit and other inputs needed by them We need to identify a roadmap with all FFBS stakeholders to meet predefined sourcing and sustainability targets.The study recommended stakeholders to bring in expertise to strengthen farmers business activities, inclusion and sustainability.