Relationship between Rural Finance Institution Services and Standard of Living of Rural Farming Households in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the relationship between Rural Finance Institution (RUFIN) services and standard of living of rural farming households in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study specifically ascertained the RUFIN credit services rendered to the rural households, compared the rural households’ standard of living before and after accessing RUFIN credit services and identified the challenges faced by the rural households in accessing the services of RUFIN. The method of judgmental sampling technique was used in selecting 367 farming household heads that benefitted from RUFIN credit services in Anambra State. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics while ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis. Results showed that majority of the RUFIN services were accessible to rural farming households, the rural households were operating at a very high extent and high extent in almost all aspects of their livelihood after benefitting from RUFIN credit delivery services. It is recommended that Rural Finance Institution services should give more attention to monitoring and supervision of credit utilization among farming households.