DERTERMINATION OF BENEFITS FROM AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO RURAL DWELLERS IN BENUE AND NASARAWA STATES, NIGERIA

Anonguku, I., Unongo, E.A. & Aveuya, A.A.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine benefits from agricultural and rural development projects to rural dwellers in Benue and Nasarawa States, Nigeria. The population of the study encompassed of all rural dwellers who are beneficiaries of agricultural and rural development projects in Benue and Nasarawa States. It was found that there was heavy presence of agricultural and rural development projects in the study area like electrification (61.7 percent), rural roads (73 percent), both primary (93.7 percent) and secondary (83.5 percent) schools. However, there was low presence (22.5 percent) of pipe borne water in the study area. The respondents derived their benefits from increased agricultural output (77.5 percent), reduction in time and distance of attending to agricultural activities in the farms (77.8 percent) and increase in economic activities (81.6 percent). Result of test of hypothesis on difference between Benue and Nasarawa States in terms of benefits from agricultural and rural development projects revealed that Benue State had ∑R_1=110.5 while Nasarawa State had∑R₂=181.6, the calculated U= 32.5 and critical value = 0 at 5% level of significance. Since U cal. (32.5)>0 (critical value), the null hypothesis was rejected and alternate accepted, implying that there was a significant difference between Benue State (∑R₁) and Nasarawa State(∑R₂) in terms of benefits derived from agricultural and rural development projects. It is therefore, recommended that both states should improve significantly in the provision of pipe borne water for the wellbeing of the rural dwellers, more farm inputs should be made available to the rural dwellers so as to increase their agricultural productivity for better welfare and improve generally in the provision of infrastructure so that there will be more benefit in terms of reduction of migration of youth to urban areas.

Keywords: Agriculture, Benefits, Benue and Nasarawa States, Development Projects and Rural Dwellers.