ASSESSMENT OF THE POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMMES ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF AROCHUKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT Poverty and unemployment has been a reoccurring issue ravaging most countries of Third World. Many states have develop policies and strategies to combat the menace yet these programmes seems not to achieve the required goal of alleviating poverty. The essence of this research is to assess the poverty eradication programme on Rural development: A study of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State,Nigeria. Three (3) objectives of the research are develop; 1. to assess the impact of tricycles distribution to indigenes of Arochukwu on employment creation and Rural development; 2. to examine the impact of agricultural grants in the increase in farmer's productivity and rural development in Arochukwu Local Government of Abia State; 3. to identify the challenges hindering the implementation of programmes in Arochukwu Local government Area of Abia State. Literatures are reviewed based on the variables in the research question, objectives and hypothesis. Primary and secondary data was used in the research and the Structural functionalist theory was explore in the course of the research. The research is a survey design and it combines the Qualitative and quantitative approach in data analysis. Chi-square is used to testing the hypotheses. Findings from the field indicates that: 1 the distribution of tricycles to indigenes of Arochukwu has a significant impact on employment creation and rural development: 2. The provision of agricultural grants has increased farmer's productivity and rural development in Arochukwu Local Government of Abia State; 3. the NAPEP has not been implemented consistently with the policy framework of ensuring improvement in the rural development of the people of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. Recommendations made are: 1.these programmes are not sufficient enough to accommodate many people. Therefore poverty alleviation programmes should encompass many beneficiaries in other to have a great significant effect on the lives of the people; 2. The Abia State Agricultural Development Programme on grant should be monitored and given to the true beneficiaries who meet the requirements; 3. There is need for continuity and sustainability especially on programmes that seems visible and beneficial to the community.