This dissertation examines peasant attitudes toward the World Bank-supervised Nigerian Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) introduced in 1986. It focuses on explaining Yoruba peasant farmers' responses to the SAP and evaluates the program's impact on peasant agriculture.; This study argues that Nigerian peasant farmers cooperated with the state on the SAP by taking advantage of policy incentives associated with the program. It posits that peasant farmers initially supported the SAP because it promised them additional and exclusive benefits through its rural development programs. This study tests whether incentives associated with the SAP were a necessary, albeit insufficient condition for peasant cooperation because decades of anti-peasant state policies had created a deep distrust of the government and widespread skepticism of state programs within peasant communities. It evaluates whether peasant cooperation was in part, a function of government strategy of manipulating public opinion and trusted institutions to promote peasant participation.; Both aggregate and survey data are used to describe and explain peasant cooperation. First, analysis of the Nigerian Federal Government (FGN) budgets of 1986--1989, shows that agriculture was favored in the sectoral allocation of budgetary expenditures. In return, aggregate crop production data shows that the agricultural sector responded positively to the incentive measures introduced under the SAP.; Second, the results of a survey of peasant farmers in Ifewara, Nigeria shows that the majority of surveyed farmers initially participated in various aspects of the agricultural development programs implemented under the SAP. The survey results also suggest that the scope of peasant participation was a function of their knowledge of the program, affluence level and the effectiveness of the SAP in delivering promised benefits. They further suggest that participation ceased when promised program benefits were not derived.; This study concludes that Nigerian peasant farmers are rational actors who would act to take advantage of perceived benefits in public programs provided they have the resources to invest without jeopardizing household subsistence security.
展开▼
