TY - JOUR AU - Muafueshiangha, Ibrahim Menkeh PY - 2021/12/27 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - THE THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NGOKETUNJIA DIVISION, NORTH WEST CAMEROON: Financial Inclusion and Agriculture JF - Global journal of Business and Integral Security JA - GBIS VL - IS - SE - Thesis DO - UR - https://gbis.ch/index.php/gbis/article/view/48 SP - AB - <p>Agriculture remains the backbone of many developing countries, with an increasing contribution<br>to the gross domestic product. In Cameroon, more than 80% of the population is involved in<br>agriculture, yet the sector is plagued by mounting challenges. With large expanses of very<br>fertile land, Ngoketunjia Division would theoretically boast of food self-sufficiency and feed<br>the rising population. On the contrary, these fertile lands co-exist with low agricultural<br>productivity and yield. Therefore, this study investigates this dilemma and questions the role<br>of financial inclusion in the productivity of agriculture in the Ngoketunjia Division. The main<br>objective of this study, therefore, is to investigate the contribution of financial inclusion<br>on the productivity of agriculture in Ngoketunjia Division, North West region of Cameroon.<br>In other to attain this objective, data was collected from 285 farmers in Ngoketunijia using<br>a structured questionnaire from a cross-section of the farming population. The data were treated<br>and analyzed using structural equation modeling technique, and particularly the Partial Least<br>Square Approach. Pre-tests conducted such as the convergent validity, average variance<br>extracted (AVE), Cronbach's alpha, and convergent validity all indicated that the instrument<br>was valid and reliable. The data set was further analyzed using the SmartPLS3.0 version. In this<br>process, we have demonstrated that there is the absence of financial inclusion in the region as<br>mainstream financial institutions are largely absent, hence limiting access to resources. This<br>makes the contribution of financial inclusion to agricultural productivity in the region below<br>par. The main hypothesis that financial inclusion has a statistically significant effect on<br>agricultural productivity was as a consequence rejected which further justifies the fact that<br>farmers are largely excluded from financial services in the region. We furthermore proved<br>that education and training play a positive and significant role in the productivity of farmers<br>in Ngoketunijia, irrespective of the variability of the weather condition. Post-tests conducted<br>such as the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) indicate no issue of multicollinearity and hence<br>result validated with 99% confidence based on a probability value of 0.00, which implies that<br>the overall conclusion is significant. It is recommended that measures should be put in place<br>to ensure pragmatic education for farmers as well as ensure financial sector development for<br>it to benefit the farming population. More youths should be encouraged and supported to<br>adopt agriculture as a business, in line with the head of state’s vision on second-generation<br>agriculture. It is concluded that agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and efforts<br>to upgrade the performance of the sector should be intensified.</p> ER -