Evaluation of the Impact of Cooperative Credit on Agricultural Productivity in Kebbi State

Access to affordable agricultural credit through cooperative societies can enable smallholder farmers to purchase improved inputs, hire labour, and invest in mechanisation, thereby raising productivity. This study evaluated the impact of cooperative credit on agricultural productivity in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive comparative design was employed, with 150 cooperative member borrowers and 100 non-borrowing farmers drawn from ten agricultural cooperatives in Argungu, Yauri, and Birnin Kebbi LGAs. Structured questionnaires collected data on credit amounts, use of credit proceeds, and crop yields for the 2022 to 2023 farming season. Yield data were collected for rice, maize, and sorghum as the primary crops. Independent samples t-tests and regression analysis were used. Results showed that cooperative borrowers invested significantly higher proportions of their farm budgets in improved seed varieties (64.0 percent versus 32.0 percent for non-borrowers), chemical fertilisers (58.7 percent versus 29.3 percent), and hired labour. Mean rice yields were 42.6 percent higher for borrowers than non-borrowers, and maize yields were 38.1 percent higher. Credit size was a significant positive predictor of yield improvement (beta = 0.47; p < 0.001). The study concludes that cooperative credit meaningfully improves agricultural productivity in Kebbi State and recommends expansion of agricultural cooperative credit facilities through the North West Agricultural Development Programme's partnership with registered cooperatives. Keywords: cooperative credit, agricultural productivity, Kebbi State, smallholder farming, North West Nigeria