EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION ON RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT The study examined the Impact of Policy Formulation and Implementation on Rural Economic Development in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State. It is the desire and responsibility of every nation in the world including Nigeria to provide for the welfare of its citizens. This is achieved through government designed policies aimed at developing various sectors of the society. Since public policy is the action or proposed action of a government aimed towards achieving desired goals, it then means that public policy guides and determines present and future decision as well as private individuals or private business institutional actions, decisions or behavior. The theoretical framework used was Progressive Utilization Theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design while Taro Yamane formula was used in selecting 154 sample size from 250 selected farmers in Katcha Local Government Area. The study relied on primary and secondary source of data while questionnaire was used for data collection for the purpose of analysis. Chi-square was used for hypotheses testing which was tested at 0.5% significant level. The result of the hypothesis revealed that implementation of agricultural policies has no significant relationship with rural economic development in Katcha local government. It was also discovered that formulation and implementation of agricultural policies has not enhanced the living standard of the people of Katcha local government. The study recommended that Formulation stage of public policies involves identification of problems. Therefore, formulation of agricultural policies should endeavour first to identify the problems of Nigeria’s agricultural sector in areas of social, economic, environmental/physical and political problems that affect the outcome of agricultural policies in Nigeria. Also adequate assessment on social economic and environmental impact analysis of agricultural policies should be carried out before formulation. This will help in providing pragmatic solutions to the problems of agricultural sector.