Determinants of Loan Repayment among Smallholder Farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined socio-economic factors influencing loan repayment among small scale farmers in Ogbomoso agricultural zone of Oyo State of Nigeria. Data collected from 100 farmers from 10 villages in 2 Local Government Areas from the zone through a multistage random sampling techniques were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Square multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that farmers were on the average 47 years with fewer years of farming experience with credit use (average of 4 years). The average farm size of 3 hectares cultivated by the respondents indicate the small scale nature of their farming business. Results of multiple regression analysis showed that amount of loan obtained by farmers, years of farming experience with credit use and level of education were the major factors that positively and significantly influenced loan repayment. However, age of farmers influenced loan repayment negatively but significantly. The study recommends that for effective farm management and increase in agricultural production, further disbursement of loans should be targeted at young and better educated farmers who are more likely to adopt new innovations in agricultural production than their older counterparts.