Midline Evaluation of an Agricultural Value Chain Programme

Midline Evaluation of an Agricultural Value Chain Programme

Sector: Agriculture & Rural Development       Country: Nigeria (West Africa)        Year: 2025

Client Background

A donor-funded agricultural value chain programme was implemented across selected states in Nigeria to improve smallholder farmer productivity, market access, and household income. Midway through implementation, the client engaged SurveySphere Africa to conduct an independent midline evaluation to assess progress, identify implementation gaps, and inform adaptive programme management.

Research Objectives

• Measure progress against programme outputs and outcome indicators
• Assess changes in agricultural practices, productivity, and income levels
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training, extension services, and market linkages
• Identify operational challenges and opportunities for course correction

Methodology

• Quantitative:
  • Structured household surveys using CAPI (n = 2,000 farmers) across programme locations
• Qualitative:
  • Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with farmer groups
  • Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with programme staff, extension agents, and market actors
• Evaluation Framework:
  
  • Results-based monitoring framework
  • OECD-DAC criteria focusing on effectiveness, relevance, and efficiency

Key Outcomes

• Improved adoption of climate-smart and improved agricultural practices among participating farmers
• Positive trends in yield and income compared to baseline levels
• Identified regional disparities in programme performance linked to extension coverage and market access

Impact

The midline evaluation provided actionable recommendations that informed programme adjustments, strengthened implementation strategies, and improved alignment with intended outcomes. Findings supported donor reporting requirements and enhanced learning for future scale-up.