Assessment of the Impact of Dry-Season Rice Production using Bakolori Irrigation Dam on Job Creation and Poverty Reduction among People of Bakura, Maradun and Talata Mafara Local Governments in Zamfara State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of dry-season rice production using Bakolori irrigation Dam on poverty reduction and job creation among people of Bakura, Maradun and Talata Mafara local government areas in Zamfara State. To guide the researcher, three (3) specific objectives, three (3) research questions and three (3) null hypotheses were formulated. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Six hundred and twelve thousand nine hundred and thirty five (612,935) rice farmers in the three local government areas formed the population of the study. Four thousand (4,000) rice farmers were selected using proportionate random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Relationship (PPMCR). All null hypotheses were tested at 5% level of significance (p=0.05). A significant relationship (p=0.05) was found between dry-season rice production and the job creation, income level, and standard of living of people in the study area. It was therefore concluded that, dry-season rice production directly affect the life of people in the study area. It was recommended among other things that, adequate inputs should be should be provided by the government to the farmers at a subsidized rate in order to boost their production and improve their standard of living there by reducing their level of poverty.