Aveuya A.A. & Anonguku, I.
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication
Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria
ABSTRACT: The study identified consraints to capacity building needs of rice value chain actors in Benue and Nasarawa States. The population of the study comprised of all rice value chain actors in both states, with a sample size of 320 respondents. Structural questionnaire were used to collect data using multi-stage sampling techniques. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings of the study showed that the highest (52.7%) pooled for both states of respondents fall within the age bracket of 21-40 years and 41-60 years. Majority (78.9%) and (67.8%) of the respondents were married. Highest (83.3%) pooled input supplies possessed Post-Secondary School Qualification. Majority (71.1%) of the respondents had farm size of 1.1 hectares and (61.1%) had household size of less than five persons (<5 persons). Some (22.5%) pooled of rice value chain actors were engaged in the use of traditional hoe for cultivation, while (21.2%) pooled respondents were involved in the use of cutlers and machetes for land clearing. Three categories of constrains to capacity building needs of rice value chain actors, socio-political, economic, managerial and environment and climatic factors were identified. The study concluded that socio-political, economic, managerial and environment and climatic factors affected capacity building needs of rice value chain actors in the study area. It was therefore, recommended that government, non- governmental organization and private individuals should be involved in the provision of critical infrastructure, good governance, better managerial skills and enabling environment for higher productivity for the rice value chain actors in the states.
Keywords: Capacity building, constraints, needs, rice value chain actors, Benue and Nasarawa States.