ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF RURAL PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper examined the availability and utilization of rural physical infrastructural facilities in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study was based on a cross-sectional survey of 160 respondents (cassava, rice and maize farmers) selected with a three-stage random sampling of communities across the four Agricultural zones in the State. Data were collected with interview schedule and analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result revealed that most of the available rural physical infrastructures were obsolete, and that irrigation facilities were the least available in the study area. Concerning rural transportation facilities, it was found that railway was not available in the study area. Most of the available roads were earthen, with few tarred. This showed that there were inadequate rural transportation facilities in the Agricultural zones. Transportation facilities were highly utilized in the study area to transport agricultural produce to the market centers. Storage facilities level of utilization had 0.45 mean score, while irrigation facilities was the least. The rural physical infrastructures utilization rate in agricultural zone C was very low compared with zones D, B and A. Analysis of Variance showed significant difference in rural physical infrastructures utilization in zones A to D. Respondents in zone C rarely utilized rural physical infrastructures, while zone A had the highest level of utilization among the four agricultural zones. The study therefore, recommended that government should focus more attention on building dams, motorable road, bridges, storage and irrigation facilities across the agricultural zones. The Niger Basin Authority should be revitalized encourage irrigation farming during dry seasons   to increase crop production and enhance food security in the State.