Journal of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Assessment of Socio economic Characteristics of Participant Farmers in Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) in Kaduna State, Nigeria
Manza, E. A. G; Garba, T.K.

Abstract
The aim of the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) is to help participating small and medium scale farmers to access improved technology, infrastructure, finance and output markets. It strengthens agricultural production systems by supporting the dissemination and adoption of new technologies for targeted value chains amongst them. This study is an empirical evaluation of the impact of socio-economic characteristics of participant farmers of CADP in Kaduna State on yield, output and income. The research findings reveal that participant farmers are more likely to get more yields, with more time spent in CADP and with increase in age. Similarly, more education, time spent in CADP and family size leads to increase in total production while the time spent in CADP has no effect on the number of hectares of land cultivated by participant farmers. The researchers recommend further evaluation of the success or failure of the CADP using different techniques as the lessons learned will go a long way in improving the design and implementation of similar programmes in the future. Also, the researchers recommend that similar programmes like the CADP will help small and medium scale commercial farmers to access improved technology, infrastructure, finance and output marketsas well as strengthen agricultural production systems, supporting the dissemination and adoption of new technologies for targeted value chains among small and medium scale commercial farmers be introduced by government at all levels.

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