The Effects of Agricultural Financing on Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria
Abstract The study “The Effects of Agricultural Finance on Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria” investigated the effect of agricultural financing, both public and private on the outputs of two main sectors of agriculture: crop production and livestock production. The objectives of the study are to examine the long and short run relationship of agricultural financing on crop production and livestock production, and to examine the causal relationship between agricultural finance and agricultural productivity. To achieve these objectives, the study employed two models, each using ARDL Test, Bounds Test, and Granger causality test using time series data from 1981 to 2019.Data were obtained from CBN and World Bank data bases. Dependent variables were Crop Production and Livestock Production respectively and independent variables were Public Finance, Commercial Bank Credit to Agriculture, Inflation Rate and Interest Rate. The model was tested using descriptive statistics to analyse the significance of the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The results show that both public and private finance were positive but insignificant in the short run. In the long run, public finance remained insignificant whereas private finance was positive and significant. Thus, private financing is more effective at improving agricultural productivity than public finance. The study also revealed a negative long run relationship between interest rate and the outputs of crop and livestock production during the period. It is therefore recommended that the government encourages private investment in agricultural activity, and puts measures in place to curb corruption and embezzlement. Government should also ensure that credit facilities are provided to farmers at low interest rate to reduce it detrimental influences.