ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF SUBSIDY RE-INVESTMENT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME (SURE-P) ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION AMONG YOUTHS IN JALINGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Taphee, B.G.; Alam, M.K.;Shiddi, S.A. and E.I. Jen

Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Taraba State College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria.

E-mail: tapheegauis@gmaill.com

Abstract: This study assessed the effect of SURE-P among youths in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economics characteristics of the respondents, examine youth perception of the SURE-P and identify the problems affecting SURE-P in the study area. Primary data were collected from 82 respondents using purposive and simple random sampling techniques and were analysed using descriptive statistics. The analysis revealed that, majority (91.5%) of the respondents was below 40 years of age, 82.9% were males and 67.1% were singles. Most (82.9%) of the respondents have household size of less than 5 children. Also, majority (76.8%) had formal education and 67.1% had a monthly income earnings of less than N20,000 per month. The major components of SURE-P were identified as: computer training, tricycle (Keke-NAPEP) and Taraba Marshals. The result on youth perception of SURE-P scheme indicated that, it has improved the income, health care, and farm output of the beneficiaries in the study area. Inadequate training, poor infrastructural facilities, irregularities in the selection of SURE-P beneficiaries, mis-management of SURE-P equipment/materials as well as distribution of sub-standard materials to the beneficiaries were among the major constraints to SURE-P scheme in the area. Recommendations were made based on the foregoing findings that SURE-P beneficiaries should be well trained by experts to effectively operates the equipment/machineries distributed to them. Also, basic infrastructural facilities such as good roads, stable power supply should be made available in the study area.