International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Amina Oluwaseun Adeyemi and Chijioke Emmanuel Nwosu

abstract
This study explores the effectiveness of integrating enterprise and financial literacy modules into Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Existing FFS primarily focus on agronomic practices but often fail to address critical aspects of farm business management, including financial capability, enterprise decision-making, and market linkages. To address this gap, a cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) was conducted across 12 communities, where 240 smallholder households were randomly assigned to either the integrated FFS model (FFS-Enterprise & Finance, FFS-EF) or a control group receiving standard agronomy FFS. The FFS-EF model incorporated modules on budgeting, record-keeping, credit management, and mobile money usage, delivered alongside agronomy sessions throughout one cropping season. Primary outcomes measured included the Enterprise Practices Index (EPI), Financial Capability Index (FCI), formal account ownership, savings behaviors, appropriate credit uptake, and household income. Results demonstrated significant improvements in EPI (+0.48 SD) and FCI (+0.42 SD) in the FFS-EF group compared to the control. Additionally, formal account ownership and regular savings rates increased by 11.1 and 17.5 percentage points, respectively. Yield, price realization, and net household income also showed notable gains in the FFS-EF group. The study highlights the potential for integrating financial literacy and enterprise development within FFS to enhance both agricultural productivity and financial inclusion. These findings suggest that a comprehensive extension approach, which includes both agronomic knowledge and business skills, can effectively promote sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers in resource-constrained environments.