Impact of USAID-Funded Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services on the Livelihoods and Empowerment of Women Farmers in Benue and Niger States, Nigeria

This study examined the impact of the USAID-funded Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services on the livelihoods and empowerment of women farmers in Benue and Niger States, Nigeria. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, employing survey questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from 342 purposively selected women farmers who were direct beneficiaries of the USAID intervention across Lapai, Paikoro, Wushishi, Otukpo, Gboko, and Ushongo Local Government Areas. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and thematic interpretation. Findings indicated that the majority of women farmers in the study areas derived considerable benefits from the USAID project. These included access to agricultural loans, distribution of free farm inputs such as seedlings and fertilizers, and targeted training by extension officers on improved agricultural technologies and management practices. The intervention not only enhanced the farmers’ productive capacities and agricultural output but also contributed to increased income, decision-making confidence, and overall empowerment. The study concluded that the USAID-funded extension and advisory services exerted a transformative influence on women’s agricultural livelihoods in the participating communities, thereby strengthening household food security and promoting gender-inclusive rural development. It recommended that relevant stakeholders particularly government agencies, development partners, and non-governmental organizations should deepen women’s integration into agricultural value chains through market expansion, value addition, and continuous capacity enhancement.