The Contribution of Rice Processing and Marketing to Poverty Reduction

The failure of governments¿ top-bottom measures of poverty reduction in Nigeria suggests that poverty reduction is the most difficult challenge facing the country and the greatest obstacle to the pursuit of sustainable socio-economic growth, hence the need to re-think about bottom-top approaches to poverty reduction . This study examined the contribution of rice processing and marketing to poverty reduction in Kwande local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study used stratified random sampling technique to select 400 respondents for the study; 400 questionnaires were administered on the respondents and only 350 questionnaires were retrieved. Descriptive statistical tools, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty index, cost-benefit analysis, and logit regression were used to analyze the data. The study revealed the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. It was discovered that the quantity of rice processed and marketed in Kwande local government over time was on the increase and that rice processing and marketing has consistently provided employment for people in the area over time.