Role of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)/Community Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP) on Poverty Reduction among Rural Women in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the role of IFAD/CBARBDP in poverty reduction among rural women of Kebbi State Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 beneficiaries. Interview schedule was the main tool used for data collection while descriptive statistics (means, frequency distribution and percentages) were used to analyse the data. The result showed that the mean age of the respondents was 40 years, 69% were married, the average household size of the beneficiaries was 10 persons, 95% of the beneficiaries did not have formal education, 62% of the beneficiaries were into trading as their major occupation, the average farm size of those involved in farming as their occupation was 0.225 hectares and the average amount of years spent in the programme was 5 years. The results also showed that women participated in 12 Women-Based Rural Development Activities, out of which three were agricultural related or on-farm skills acquisition activities. The rest were off-farm projects, which evolved as small scale rural industries. The findings also revealed that the major role played by IFAD/CBARDP on poverty reduction among women in the study area are tailoring with a mean of (4.34), cream making (4.21) and preparation of food supplement (4.10).Base on the type of assistance rendered to the beneficiaries. The major role played by IFAD/CBARDP are provision of cash with a mean of (4.41), provision of cash and livestock (4.17), provision of cash and foodstuffs (4.02) and provision of cash and Extension services (4.02).It could be concluded that IFAD-CBARDP has played a prominent role in poverty reduction through skills acquisition, provision of support services to rural women of Kebbi State through the introduction of the Women-based rural development activities. Improving women's access to productive resources such as credit and appropriate technologies can increase production and consumption of food crops thereby increasing their income level; women literacy education programme is required to help rural women acquire basic skills and abilities to seek and receive needed information through modern communication channels such as mass media and extension agents.