Poverty rate is one of the indicators for measuring how a country is growing or developing. In a bid to help reduce the poverty rate in the country, International Fund for Agricultural Development in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeira introduced Rural Finance Institution (RUFIN). RUFIN is a programme designed to reduce poverty among rural households. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Rural Finance Institution services in reducing rural farming household poverty in Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives addressed in the study area include; ascertaining the effect of RUFIN services (educational and technical support) rendered to the rural farming household, examine the effect of RUFIN educational services rendered on rural farming household literacy level and examine the effect of RUFIN technical support services on the rural farming household health condition. The primary data were obtained using a researcher-designed questionnaire which was distributed to 367 household heads. The data gotten from the field was analysed with both descriptive (frequency table, simple percentage, mean and five (5) point likert scale analysis with conventional mean of 3.0 that is any variable > 3.0 is negative while any ≤ 3.0 will be positive) and inferential statistics(T-test, and Correlation). The study found that almost all the RUFIN educational and technical services were accessible to the rural farming households. RUFIN educational services have a positive influence on rural household literacy level to a great extent except ability to pay children’s school fees when due. RUFIN technical support services have effectively enhanced the rural households’ health conditions. It was recommended among others that RUFIN should partner with other relevant institutions and agencies that have similar mission of reducing poverty among rural farming households.

Keywords: Rural finance institution, farming household, impact, poverty reduction.