Evaluation of Third National Fadama Development Programme (Fadama 111) on Poverty Reduction in Rural Communities of Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Fadama111 is a World Bank assisted programme designed to reduce poverty in the rural areas of Nigeria. The objective of the programme is to sustainably increase the incomes of fadama users. By increasing their incomes the programme would help reduce rural poverty, increase food security and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG). The objectives of this study are to; examine status of the benefiting rural communities in the study area, assess the impact of the Fadama111 programme on the beneficiary community members’ livelihood activities and socio-economic development in the study area, identify constraints to effective intervention of Fadama111 programme in the study area. The method of data collection was the use of questionnaire, personal observation and structural interview. All the five funded FCAs and thirty three fadama user groups (FUGs) in the study area were selected as sample frame. 380 respondents were purposively chosen as sample size for this study. The questionnaire was administered to ten respondents in each FCA and FUG. Performance index and satisfactory level were the measurement variables. Descriptive techniques were used for data analysis. The conclusion was that Fadama111 programme did not improve the condition of members of the benefiting communities especially in the area of food production. Corrupt practices such as embezzlements and mismanagement of funds by both rural and state management officials of Fadama111 programme, untimely and inadequate supply of inputs and difficulties of member communities to pay counterpart funds were major constraints to effective implementation of Fadama111 programme in the study area.