CAPITALIZING ON RICE EXPORT MARKET AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

Export Market is critical and important aspects to rural poor households. It is a pre-requisite for enhancing agriculture based economic growth through the improvement of competitiveness of farming enterprise and improving rural incomes

Export Market is critical and important aspects to rural poor households. It is a pre-requisite for enhancing agriculture based economic growth through the improvement of competitiveness of farming enterprise and improving rural incomes. 

Several studies have been conducted on market participation of the small-scale farmers in rice and other crops marketing in Africa, but, specific information on the extent to which small-scale rice farmers are engaging into the export market is not readily available. 

This study aimed at capitalizing on the rice export market among small holder farmers , challenges and opportunities purposive and random sampling procedures were employed in selecting the respondents. The data collected data, were analyzed using descriptive statistics, 

Binary logistic regression and the Multinomial logistic regression model. Results show that socio-economic, institutional and market characteristics of the small-scale rice farmers varied greatly across markets.The multinomial logistic regression results show that age, level of education, distance to markets, and quantities of rice produced, price information and contract marketing were key factors that influence participation of farmers in the export market 

The problems facing small-scale rice farmers were transport problems and policies and weighing in view of research findings, several policy proposals are suggested these include disseminating information’s to rice farmers, forming formal small-scale rice farmer’s groups and improving weighing system.