Effect of financial inclusion on market participation of rice farmer’s cooperative members in Anambra State

Abstract

This study on the effect of financial inclusion on market participation of rice farmer’s cooperative members in Anambra State, Nigeria used a combination of analytical tools like descriptive statistics, beta, and linear regression models to operationalize the data collected from a random sampling of 328 respondents. Descriptively, the study found that the majority of the respondents had access to savings accounts (87.0%) and point of sales (85.0%). Additionally, 81.0% confirmed the availability of microfinance bank (MFB) services, highlighting the extensive presence of MFBs in Anambra State. The study also delves into the market participation of rice farmers. The average farm size for the cooperative was found to be 9.85 hectares, producing an output of 39.73 tons. A high market participation index (0.848) showed that 84.8% of the total rice output was offered for sale. Furthermore, the result of the beta regression analysis revealed that online banking or self-service platforms (0.097), and microfinance services (0.180) positively influence farmer's decisions to participate in the market. Furthermore, cooperative age, legal status, and gender significantly determined the use of these financial products. It was also discovered that various challenges faced by farmers for financial inclusion, such as high interest rates and poor internet services hamper on market participation ability of the farmers. The study therefore recommends that financial institution should revise their interest rate to help accommodate a diverse range of rice farmers.