CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUPERVISED ENTERPRISE PROJECTS (SEPs) IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Challenges faced in the implementation of Supervised Enterprise Projects (SEPs) beneficiaries in North-East Nigeria was evaluated in this study. Although SEPs are implemented in many communities in North-East Nigeria under the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) Programme of the Adamawa State University (ADSU), Mubi, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of the SEPs in enhancing the livelihoods of farmers in the region. The study thus focused on the constraints faced by the beneficiaries.The survey was carried out in the operational areas of the SAFE Programme of ADSU, Mubi (Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, and Taraba States). A total of 690 respondents comprising 345 SEPs beneficiaries, and 345 non-beneficiaries were selected. Structured questionnaires were used to gather primary data from the respondents. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and the challenges faced. Educational attainment was found to have a positive and highly significant coefficient in influencing adoption (β = 0.193; p < 0.001). The research further revealed some factors that used to hinder effective agricultural investment had reduced significantly. Some of these were inadequate monitoring and supervision which was reduced form 16.0% to 6.0%, on the other hand, environmental constraints like climate variability and frequent changes in weather conditions increased from 16.2% to 18.0%. This study establishes that Supervised Enterprise Projects (SEPs) is an effective agricultural extension and capacity building tool which could promote adoption of technology, boost farm productivity and strengthen beneficiaries’ farming livelihoods. However, the study calls for greater focus on affordable and context-specific adoptable technologies to promote the sustainability, scalability and inclusiveness of the SEP benefits.