Value Chain Development Programme And Agricultural Enterprise Growth In Anambra State, Nigeria

The Federal government of Nigeria (FGN) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) launched the value chain development programme (VCDP), with the goal to improve livelihoods, incomes and food security of its populace, but the consistent price increase of food products especially rice and cassava in Nigeria is an indication that the country is yet to meet this target. Therefore, this study is to examine rice and cassava value chain programmes to ascertain their contributions to agricultural enterprise growth in Nigeria. The main objective of this study is to investigates value chain development programme (VCDP) and agricultural enterprise growth in Anambra state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: assess the effect of operations programme (rice and cassava) on agricultural enterprise growth in Anambra State, Nigeria; ascertain the effect of marketing programme (rice and cassava) on Agricultural enterprise growth in Anambra State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted. The population of this study comprised of 12, 737 rice and cassava VCDP farmers in Anambra state, the sample size was 427 respondents using simple random sampling technique across the 8 local government area covered by the Anambra state VCDP. Data was collected through questionnaires. Multiple regression techniques were used for analysis. Findings from the study show that operation have positive relationship and significant effect on agricultural enterprise growth in Anambra state, Nigeria. While marketing programme has positive relationship and insignificant effect on agricultural enterprise growth in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study recommends that; Agric-enterprise should adopt bush fallowing method to aid its operations programme as farming on same piece of land for a long period of time may mar operational effort for optimum output. Effective development and implementation of marketing strategy that covers all area of marketing mix, establish functional aggregation centers.