EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON WELFARE OF RURAL FARM FAMILIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effect of community and social development projects (CSDP) on welfare of rural farm families in Niger State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 beneficiaries. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect primary data and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed mean age of 42 years while majority (97.3%) of the beneficiaries acquired formal education with mean household size of 8 people. Majority (84.0%) of the beneficiaries were members of cooperative societies. The effect of CSDP intervention in health sector includes; number of children enrolment in schools (z = 8.94), number of students studying science courses (z = 5.93) all increased but distance to schools (z = -18.11) was reduced. The effect of CSDP intervention in water sector include; time taken to get water (z = -7.34), number of reported water-borne diseases (z = -32.84), cost of buying water (z = - 3.83) all reduced but number of people using borehole water (z = 7.63) increased. The effect of CSDP intervention in transport sector includes; number of vehicle plying the road per day (z = 10.40) increased but time taken to travel (z = -15.58) was reduced. The effect of CSDP intervention in health sector includes; number of medical staff deployed (z = 2.96), number of people seeking medical counseling (z = 2.54) were increased while distance to heath center (z = 6.42) was reduced. On perception, the results revealed that provision of educational facilities (= 2.17), water supply to the community (= 2.20), provision of healthcare facilities (= 2.28) and provision of motor able roads (= 2.19) were perceived to be effective. Meanwhile, intervention such as provision of agricultural inputs ( = 1.35) and provision of extension services (= 1.25) were perceived not to be effective. Poor mobilization and time consuming rank 1st and 2nd in terms of severity of the problems while problem of site location rank lowest 12th. The study concluded that CSDP had significant effect on the income of the beneficiaries as well as on their welfare. It was recommended that extension agents should increase their contacts in order to reach out to large number of farmers for greater mobilization and participation in the project; also the program should be scaled up in other Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State and the project should have flexible policy that removes bureaucracy for easy access to micro-projects.