Agricultural Value Chain Development and Farmer Income Enhancement in North Central Nigeria

This study examines value chain development interventions and their effectiveness in enhancing farmer income in agricultural value chains in North Central Nigeria. Value chain development programmes supported by development partners including USAID, GIZ, and the World Bank have targeted key commodity chains in the region, including soybean, cowpea, and sesame, with the aim of improving market linkages, reducing post-harvest losses, and increasing farmer income capture. This study uses a comparative case study design, examining value chain development outcomes in three commodity chains across Benue, Niger, and Nasarawa States. Data are collected from 150 participating farmers, 30 value chain actors, and 20 programme implementation staff through surveys and semi-structured interviews. Income enhancement outcomes, value chain coordination improvements, and sustainability of programme-induced changes are assessed. Findings reveal that value chain programmes producing durable income gains consistently combine three elements: farmer organisation strengthening, direct buyer linkage development, and post-harvest management improvement. Programmes focusing on single elements show weaker and less sustained income effects. Women's income gains are consistently larger in programmes that address gender-specific market access barriers. The study concludes that integrated value chain development is more effective than single-point interventions. It recommends value chain programme designs that simultaneously address coordination, infrastructure, and organisational dimensions.

Keywords: value chain development, farmer income, North Central Nigeria, market linkages, agricultural commodities.