THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT EXCHANGE CENTRE MICROCREDIT IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study focused on the role of Development Exchange Centre (DEC) microcredit in women empowerment and poverty alleviation in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected using a well-structured questionnaire administered to 420 women farmers of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in the study area. The result shows the mean farming experience was 22 years for DEC beneficiaries and 19 years for non- beneficiaries while mean farm size for beneficiaries and non- beneficiaries was 2.0 ha. The result of the regression analysis showed that level of education, age and years of involvement in cooperative society were significantly related with level of participation. The mean crops output of DEC beneficiaries (437,807.1kg) was significantly higher than non- beneficiaries (145,571.4kg). The difference in the mean crops output levels was largely attributed to participation in DEC microcredit programme. The calculated Z-test value (14.74) for crops output and income (22.93) was significant at 1%. It was therefore recommended that DEC programme be extended to other farming communities in Kaduna State, so as to accelerate the poverty alleviation among women farmers in the State.