An Overview of Effects of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy on Agricultural and Rural Development
- July 5, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Agriculture
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VI, June 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Unongo, E. A.1, Biam, C.K.2 and Tena, M.B.3
1Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
2Department of Agricultural Economics, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
3Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Unongo, E. A.
Abstract:-The paper assessed copiously the effects of National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy on agricultural and rural development in Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the effects on agricultural development in rural areas in aspects of technology demonstration and adoption as well as capacity building, also on effects of rural infrastructural development in the rural areas in the aspects of rural infrastructural development network of farm access road, rural energy, rural water and sanitation in Nigeria. It considered the eligibility criteria for beneficiary participants and project objectives. It concludes that National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy has impacted positively to some extent in some rural areas in Nigeria but has not made significant positive impact to some extent in some rural areas in Nigeria therefore, poverty remain at alarming rate and people in rural areas are still locked in vicious circle of poverty. It recommended that: majority of the people in the rural areas should be accessed education to be more enlightened to embrace developmental programmes; leadership at all cadres should be truly committed to the agricultural and economic reform agenda; ensure improved health care among the rural people; programmes should be generated and designed within the country to cover all rural areas rather than foreign based to prevent the shock from financial and human resources withdrawal experienced from foreign donor agencies.
Key words: beneficiaries; empowerment; LEEDS; NEEDS; SEEDS.
I. INTRODUCTION
A review of economic history of Nigeria shows that successive governments have expressed concern of the need to alleviate the rural people of their suffering and reduce poverty level to its barest minimum in the country. Unfortunately, the issue of poverty reduction has proved to be the most difficult challenge facing the less developed countries (Nigeria inclusive) where majority of the people live in absolute poverty. However, the government has continued to respond in order to ameliorate the worsening condition of the poor by shifting public expenditure towards poverty reduction.
