Towards Promoting Rural Infrastructure for Poverty Reduction: Analysis of FADAMA III Small-Scale Community-Owned Infrastructure in Kaduna and Sokoto States, Nigeria

Abstract

This study is aimed at assessing the impact of the Third National Fadama Development Project (NFDP III) on the provision of small-scale community-owned Infrastructures (SCIs) for poverty reduction. The sector goal of NFDP III is to reduce poverty by improving the living conditions of the rural poor; contribute to food security and increase access to rural infrastructures. The study made use of questionnaires to generate primary data from 245 respondents whilst project implementation manuals, appraisal reports, baseline and midline surveys, etc. constituted the secondary data. The study found that outcome of the NFDP III had a profound impact on the beneficiaries, notably crop farmers and livestock owners. For example in Kaduna State, the income of crop farmers increased by 199% and livestock owners by 221%. In Sokoto State, the income of crop farmers increased by 225% and livestock owners by 315%. The food security situation of the crop farmers and livestock owners had improved greatly by about 84.4% and 98.3%, respectively. While the socio-economic conditions of the crop farmers and livestock owners had improved significantly by 74.2% and 95.7%, respectively. The study recommends that to further sustain the impetus created by the NFDP III on poverty reduction in Nigeria, the federal, state and local governments should as a matter of concern, extend their commitment beyond facilitating the provision of rural infrastructure to those of scaling-up the levels of provision, maintenance, and management and poverty reduction so as to remain part of national development goals.