APPRAISAL OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY SMALL FARM HOLDERS IN ACCESSING LOAN FACILITIES

This work is designed to examine the problems faced by small farm holders in accessing loan facilities in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The researcher examined the role of commercial banks in financing agriculture in Edo State. Recommend actions were made to resolve the problems faced by small farm holders in accessing loan facilities in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State questionnaires were designed in such a way to be able to elicit unbiased response from respondents. The questionnaire designed for this study was divided into two segments. There were questions meant for the entire respondents, while others are meant for the respondent who have obtained loan under the agriculture credit facilities scheme.
 
Farmers need productive resources and these resources are acquired with owned or borrowed fund. Agricultural is very important to the economy of must developing countries of the world and because of this, a supply of adequate finance is essential for national well-being. Since agriculture is the back-bone of Nigeria economy providing employment to about 70% of its population yet this important sector has suffered neglect since the oil boom days. Agriculture has totally declined since the early 1970s Nigeria export crops such as groundnut, oil palm and cocoa have suddenly disappeared and the country is net importer of food crops. Agriculture recorded growth rate in 1975 at about 2.6% while the population grew at about 70% compared to 57.7% in 1993. The small scale farmers according to the National Agriculture Policy Document of Nigeria (NAPDN) constitute over 90% of the food and fiber requirement of Nigeria on the other hand 1% of farmers out put in Nigeria. But tend to have greater access to farmers inputs including credit or loans.
 
This study is to investigate and analyze the problems associated with obtaining credit financing agriculture production in Edo State it would be seen that many problem arise mostly are problems encountered by the farmers in the area.
 The main purpose of this study is to find the major problems of obtaining credit of loans for financing agricultural production in Nigeria with particular reference to Edo State. The objectives of the studies are.
This research study will be important to that future researcher in the economy and agricultural science who would like to use it as reference materials or for further investigation.  
The study is to create awareness to farmers in Edo State, the reason of low agricultural production and also to bring to the notice of the general public loans for financing agricultural production in the locality.
It will form a good basis to the government for the formulation of policies. To serve as encouragement to those farmers in the area of study.
 
Some questions to be tackled in the course of this study have been raised.
The study is aimed at providing detailed knowledge and understanding of the operation function and to determine the problems of obtaining loans for financing agricultural production in Edo State through the Federal Government Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (FGACGS) found since 1977 with the view of providing useful suggestion to ease the problem of agriculture development in Nigeria it is directed towards the application of problems obtained for financing agriculture view of this more emphasis will be placed in the success of credit facilities lending procedure as a criteria of measurement. The performance of the commercial banks in the regard will be assessed by using the present farmer’s areas to the agricultural credit facilities as well as the hindrance which the small farm holders face in obtaining loans from financial institutions.
 
Credit: This is the process of obtaining control over the use of money, goods and services with promise to repay at a future data.                   
Agricultural finance: This means way and means by which a farmer obtains the entire necessary fund required in order to carryout agricultural production.
Interest: This means the price paid for the use of borrowed money and is usually expressed as a present on annuals basis.
Collateral: This means anything offered as a promised of loan repayment to be given to a lender in case of non-payment.