ABSTRACT
The study was conducted on the effect of micro credit on cassava farmers in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers, describe sources of micro-credit, determine the volume of loan accessed by farmers, determine and compare the effect of micro credit on cassava production by user and non-user of micro credit facilities and identify the constraints faced by cassava farmers in accessing credit.
Primary data were collected from 60 respondents using a well-structured questionnaire via interview method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and multiple regression analysis.
Findings reveal that Majority of the farmers were male (93.3%) for user and (63.3%) for non-credit user. Most of the credit user gets credit from cooperatives(40.0%). the average revenue generated from cassava production for credit users was ₦1541633 from an average quantity of 99bags with an average selling price of ₦12400. The average revenue generated for non-credit users was ₦1550967 from 87bags with an average selling price of ₦110033.33per bag. The major constraints facing the non-Credit user include lack of access tocredit facilities, high interest rate,lack of security required,poor knowledge about micro credit,process of getting the loan. It was concluded that access to micro credit could offer more opportunities to farmers in terms of higher profit and expansion of farm holding.
