RICE FARMERS COOPERATIVE GROUP MEMBERS’ PERCEPTION ON LOAN REPAYMENT IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the perception of cooperative rice farmers on loan repayment in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Interview schedule was employed in obtaining information from 138 cooperative rice farmers randomly selected from twenty-three rice cooperative groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result shows that the mean age of the respondents was 41 years and household size of 7 persons, majority (70.3%) were males, married (84.1%), with average rice farming experience 25 years. Also majority (98.6%) of the respondents have high perception on loan repayment. Loans were used for buying planting materials (98.6%), paying of laborers (92.8) and managing of farm activities (91.3) among others. Preferred timing of loan repayment are fortnightly (94.9%) and weekly (65.2%). The constraints timely repayment of loan were diversion of funds to non-farm ventures ( = 2.18), late disbursement of loan ( = 2.02) high interest rate ( = 1.99), and lack of government support ( = 1.96). Correlation result shows that the age of the respondents (r=0.688, p<0.027), household size (r=0.727, p<0.021), educational level (r=0.923, p<0.014), and years of farming experience (r=0.661, p< 0.036) showed a positive significant relationship with perception of loan repayment. The study established that respondents have high perception for the loan repayment. Socio-economic variables also contributed to the loan repayment. It was recommended that rice farmers should have access to soft loan since they have high repayment, this would help to expand rice farming and boost production as well as constant capacity building training on positive perception on loan repayment