IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED PROCESSING EQUIPMENT ON BENEFICIARIES- POVERTY STATUS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA: A MIXED- METHODS ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Ondo state benefited from the Federal Government recipient of credit, and through FADAMA provides support to beneficiaries with food processing and equipment. This study assesses the impact of the benefits of the processing equipment supplied to the beneficiaries on their poverty level. The study popula on consist of 450 beneficiaries. Mul-stage sampling procedure was adopted. Based on the preponderance of processors, purposive sampling was used to sample 11 out of 18 Local government areas across the three senatorial districts within the state. Random sampling technique was used to select 30.2% of the beneficiaries to give a sample size of 136, structured ques onnaire was administered to the respondents by the trained enumerators. Data obtained were analyzed using descrip ve (means, frequency and percentage) and inferen al sta s cs t-test. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents (64.7%) were male with average age 46.9 years, having secondary educa on, mean household of 5 person. It was also observed that majority of the respondents (91.9%), primarily had food processing as their major occupa on. Findings also revealed an Improve poverty reduc on from the lives of the beneficiaries as evident in increase in output (60.3%) and income (58.8%). The study concluded that the assistant received by the beneficiaries in form of processing equipment, has significantly reduced the poverty level of the recipients, and had posi vely impacted on the outputs and income and as well as substan al improvement on their lives. The study recommended among others that more awareness programs and enlightenment campaign should be mounted to sensi ze the populace on the needs to be empowered economically and be self - employed especially in the present economic situa on where there is scarcity of white-collar jobs.