Funding small-to-medium scale agribusiness towards boosting eastern Nigerian economy at post covid-19 pandemic era

Abstract

This study investigates funding of small–to-medium sized agri-business towards boosting eastern Nigerian economy at post covid-19 pandemic with special reference to SME farming in Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to determine, among others, the problems associated with the SME Agribusiness. The validity and reliability co-efficient ratio was 0.87. The population studied was one hundred and fifty (150) and comprises of Teachers- owners of farms and others. The researchers utilized questionnaire for information gathering and applied survey research design. The validity and reliability co-efficient ratio was 0.87. Frequency and standard Deviation were utilized to analyze the data and test the research hypotheses with T-test. Findings show that; at the instance of post covid-19 pandemic; there was lack of funds and lack of access to financial support which poses a big challenge, lack of exposure to new and improved ways of agri-business, Lack of publicity, Lack of adequate enforcement/aggressive campaigns for farming in our primary and Tertiary institutions (inadequacy of our curriculum). It was concluded that access to finance enables SMEs farmers to perform better. Inculcation of farming business in our primary up to tertiary education and wide publicity helps improve agri-business. It was recommended that government should grant financial assistance, private provision of access to financial support and develop a policy enabling financial groups to consider granting SMEs Framers access to financial assistance. This will boost the activities of Small-to-medium Scale Agri-businesses in the Eastern Nigeria and increase revenues to the nation.  The implication is that if farming agri-business is not seriously pursued, hunger and poverty will overtake the nation especially the Eastern Nigeria.