ABSTRACT
The study focused on the assessment of USAID MARKETS II soybean production project in Benue State, Nigeria. The population for the study included all project participant soybean farmers of USAID MARKETS II project. Multistage, purposive, proportionate and random sampling techniques were employed in selecting the respondents for the study. All the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) participating in the project were used for the study. Two soybean farmers associations (S.F.A.) that participated in the project were randomly selected from each LGA giving a total of sixteen (16) SFAs. Proportionate sampling was used in selecting the respondents from each soybean farmers association (30% of the members of each soybean farmers association was selected to obtain a total of 150 respondents) that was used for the study.  Interview schedule was used for data collection. Percentage, frequency, mean score and standard deviation were used to present some of the data while multiple regression and factor analysis were also used to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that USAID MARKETS II soybean project farmers in Benue State were mainly males who were middle aged with long years of farming experience and large household size. Majority (68.0%) of them acquired land through inheritance. The majority (84.7%) of the farmers participating in USAID MARKET 11 project purchased agro inputs in open market at high price against the original plan of the project. Similarly, the majority (76.7%) of project farmers sold their farm produce in open markets contrary to the price setting and buy back arrangement between USAID MARKETS II and Hule Nig LTD initiated by the project. All the participants grew improved varieties of soybeans but had less access to extension services. Consequently, the farmers had low farm output, yield and income. Project participants had both positive and negative perceptions about the project. The results of the study also revealed that all the respondents adopted technologies such as TGX1448-2E variety of soybean and crop rotation (total adoption score= 750 and mean adoption score=5.00 each). Number of extension contact (t = 3.309; p = 0.001) and membership of farmers’ organizations/ cooperatives (t = -2.048; p = 0.042) were factors influencing adoption of the technologies significantly. The study also revealed that farming experience (t = 2.115; p = 0.36), number of bags of fertilizer applied (t=4.246; p= 0.000) and soybean farm size (t=4.843; p=0.00) significantly influenced soybean output. The study also showed that five out of the eleven variables regressed significantly influenced soybean yield of the farmers. These variables were farming experience (t = 2.162; p = 0.32), number of years spent in acquiring formal education (t=1.99; p= 0.04), quantity of fertilizer applied (t=3.136; p=0.002), soybean farm size (t= -2.931; p=0.004) and number of extension contacts t=2.522; p=0.013). Economic, institutional and linkage constraints were extracted as constraints hindering the success of the project. The study therefore recommended among others active participation of government especially at grass root level in good agricultural projects of this nature initiated and sponsored by internal or external body by way of providing logistic support and frequent monitoring and evaluation of the project. This will help to overcome lapses, boost interest and capabilities of farmers/ participants in the project and ensure success of the project.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page                                                                                                                               i
Approval Page                                                                                                                       ii
Certification                                                                                                                           iii
Dedication                                                                                                                             iv
Acknowledgements                                                                                                               v
Table of Contents                                                                                                                  vi
List of Table                                                                                                                           ix
List of Figures                                                                                                                       x
Abstract                                                                                                                                  xi
CHAPTERÂ ONE: INTRODUCTIONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
1.2 Statement of the problem                                                                                                 5
1.3. Purpose of the study                                                                                                      6
1.4. Significance of the study                                                                       Â
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEWÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8
2.1. The concept of perception                                                                                              8
2.2. Review of some agricultural technology / programmes in Nigeria                                10
2.2.1. Agricultural policies and programmes in the colonial era.                                          10
2.2.2. Agricultural policies and programmes in the post- colonial era.                                 11
2.3. USAID MARKETS II in Nigeria                                                                                   15
2.3.1. USAID MARKETS II soybeans production technologies in Benue State                 16
2.3.2. Kinds of soybean production technologies introduced in Benue State by USAID     MARKETS II project                                                                                                17
2.4. Agronomic practices of soybeans in Nigeria                                                                  20
2.4.1. Conditions necessary for soybean production                                                             20
2.5. Production trend of soybean in Nigeria                                                                          21
2.6. Factors influencing adoption of agricultural technologies in Nigeria                            22
2.6.1. Technology factors                                                                                                      23
2.6.2. Economic factors                                                                                                         24
2.6.3. Institutional factors                                                                                                      26
2.6.4. Household-specific factors                                                                                         29
2.7. Factors affecting agricultural productivity in Nigeria                                                           31
2.8. Some problems of agricultural programmes/ policies in Nigeria                                   33
2.8.1. Top-down approach in project design and implementation                                        33
2.8.1. Bureaucratic bottlenecks                                                                                           33
2.8. 2. Lack of continuity of agricultural development programmes                                     34
2.8.3. Non interaction between and among stakeholders                                                      34
2.8.4. Weak agricultural policy                                                                                              35
2.9.  Some strategies for enhancing agricultural programmes/ technologies in Nigeria      35
2.10. Approaches to measurement of adoption of innovation in agriculture                         36
- 11. Adoption theories 37
2.12. Conceptual framework                                                                                                 42
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1. Study area                                                                                                                                   45
3.2. Population and sampling procedure                                                                               46
3.3. Instrument for data collection                                                                                         47
3.4. Measurement of variables                                                                                               48
3.5. Data analysis                                                                                                                    53
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1. Socio- economic characteristics of the respondents                                                       54
4.3. Agricultural Characteristics of the respondents                                                             60
4.4. Farmers perception of USAID MARKET II soybean production project                      64
4.5. Adoption of soybean production technologies of USAID MARKET II project by the  farmers                                                                                                                          70
4.4. Factors influencing adoption of USAID MARKETS II soybean production
technologies                                                                                                                    80
4.5. Factors influencing output of farmers participating in USAID MARKETSII
project.                                                                                                                           82
4.6. Factors influencing yield of farmers participating in USAID MARKETS II
Project                                                                                                                             85
4.7. Constraints inhibiting the success of USAID MARKETS II soybean production
Project                                                                                                                            88
4.8. Suggested strategies to ensure success of USAID MARKETS II soybean production
project                                                                                                                             102
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Summary                                                                                                                        106
5.2. Conclusion                                                                                                                       111
5.3. Recommendations                                                                                                           112
References                                                                                                                      114
Appendix: Interview schedule for project participants                                                   126
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Soybean is a leguminous plant which scientific name is Glycine max and belongs to family of fabaceae (Heuze & Tran, 2015). It has many common names depending on the region where it is grown.
ASSESSMENT OF USAID MARKETS II SOYBEAN PRODUCTION PROJECT IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
