A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE BAUCHI STATE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BASIRDA) IN EASTERN ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE.

A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE BAUCHI STATE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BASIRDA) IN EASTERN ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE.

Abstract:

Rural Development has been pushed to the top agenda in Nigeria’s national development drive. The generala aim has been to raise the standard of living of the rural people. The enthusiasm which prevailed during the pursuit of this policy goal has led to the establishment of many institutions at the different levels of government all of which are expected to collectively achieve the rural development goal. However, little has been achieved through these institutions which have so far failed to achieve the aspirations of the target people, hence the rural areas have remained neglected and their inhabitants worse off. The search for an appropriate solution to the problems of rural neglect led the Col. Chris Garuba administration to set up the Bauchi State Integrated Rural Development Authority (BASIRDA) in March 1986 to pursue a more vigorous and meaningful development of the rural areas of Bauchi State. This study evaluates the rural development programme of the Authority, particularly in the area, of infrastructural provision of rural feeder roads, rural water supply and electricity in the Eastern Zone of Bauchi State. The methodological approach was to take Eastern Zone as a micro-region, to form a conceptual vi basis of examining BASIRDA activities in the State The purpose of this evaluation was to assess how much of the aspirations of the target people had been achieved through BASIRDA infrastructure provision, and if not much has been achieved to identify the constraints responsible for the poor achievement. Analysis of data from the survey revealed that the daily yield of water from most of the boreholes instituted by BASIRDA is inadequate, mainly due to the drying up of most of them, hence the inconveniences encountered by the people in their daily search for and use of water; in trekking longer distances and in the use of other sources of water which are less hygenic than the boreholes. In view of these results, it is concluded that the borehole water supply projects in the study area falls short of its desired objectives On the feeder roads, except for the poor state of some, the programme was found to have brought about strong spatial interaction and integration. Electricity was found to be making significant contributions to the social and economic life of the people of Hashidu and Gona villages the only villages provided with electricity in the zone by BASIRDA. In conclusion the study recommends how constraints to effective rural development, found from the assessment of BASIRDA provided infrastructures may be achieved.

A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE BAUCHI STATE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BASIRDA) IN EASTERN ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE.