Evaluation of the Impact of the Anchor Borrowers Programme on Rice Farmers’ Income in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

The Anchor Borrowers Programme, launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria, represents one of the most significant agricultural credit interventions in recent Nigerian history, targeting smallholder staple crop farmers and linking them to off-taker commodity firms. In Kebbi State, a major rice production belt, the programme has been widely implemented, yet rigorous impact assessment at the farm household level is limited. This study evaluated the impact of the Anchor Borrowers Programme on rice farmers' income in Kebbi State. A stratified sample of 100 rice farmers comprising beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries was selected from three local government areas. Data on credit access, input utilisation, yield performance, and income were collected through structured questionnaires. Propensity score matching and regression analysis were employed to estimate programme impact. Results showed that beneficiary farmers recorded paddy yields approximately 29 percent higher than non-beneficiaries and earned farm income premiums averaging N58,000 per hectare per season. Timely input disbursement and assured off-take arrangements were the key programme mechanisms driving improvements. However, loan recovery challenges and delays in input supply in some communities were reported as weaknesses. The study recommends strengthening the monitoring and logistics components of the programme and expanding it to cover more rice farming communities in Kebbi State. Keywords: Anchor Borrowers Programme, rice farmers, income, Kebbi State, agricultural credit.