A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE SUPERVISED AND NONSUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SCHEME AS A TOOL FOR AGRICULTURAL-DEVELOPMENT IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigates the impact of supervised Agricultural Credit Scheme (SACs) as a tool for agricultural development in Rivers State, Nigeria. Thus, a comparative analysis of the productivities of two groups of farmers viz: farmers who obtained credit from formal sources and those who obtained credit from informal sources was undertaken. The findings of the study revealed that farmers who had access to the supervised agricultural credit scheme consumed more inputs, obtained higher yield and thus realised greater farm profit per hectare than their counterparts who obtained credit from informal sources. This is a direct impact of SACs on the small-scale farmers. It is therefore recommended that through extension services, the scope of SACs should be widened to embrace more farmers in Rivers State in particular and in Nigeria at large.