A Compartive assessment of the implementation of rural development programs among literate and illiterate farmers of tehuledere Woreda of Amhara regional State
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the comparative difference among Literate and
Illiterate Farmers in participation and implementation of Rural Development Programs, like
education, health, agriculture and use of micro finance institutions. To this end, a descriptive
survey design was applied. Quantitative information were gathered by using structured
questionnaire whereas the qualitative information collected by using open ended questions, focus
group di scuss ions and document analysis. The sample respondents included in the study were 4
wereda officials and 40 illiterate and literate farmers (20 from each category). Accordingly, the
total number of respondents participated in the study were 44, from which 28 are males and 16
are females. The results from the study revealed that the participation and the advantage gain
from rural development programs like education, health, agricultural productivity and use of
microfinance institutions is much in favor of literate respondents than the illiterate counter parts.
For instance, only 65 percent of the illiterate respondents are willing to send some of their
children to school, 90 percent of the illiterate respondents confirmed as their children's dropped
out of their education because of different social and economic problems. On contrary, however,
more than 95 percent of the literate respondents are assured that even if various challenging
conditions may appear, they are not preferred and accept their children's dropout from school
engagements. Furthermore, 85 percent of the literate children are attending anti-six vaccinations
from begirU1ing to the end. Regarding farming inputs, literate farmers are more advantageous
than illiterate farmers because the study showed that only 50 percent of the illiterate respondents
st ill use local seeds with chemical fertilizers, about 30 percent of them use both improved and
local seeds with chemical fertilizers and 20 percent of them are using improved seeds with
chemical fertilizers. Moreover, 65 percent of the illiterate respondents did not have previous
experience of using local micro finance institutions as alternative sources of money. In light of
these findings, the recommendations forwarded include: intervention programs should be
undertaken to increase school enrolment and level of children's retention in school; program
evaluation are required to assess for the right implementation of the 16 major pillars stated under
the rural health extension programs; continuous education and awareness creation programs
should be given by the local development agents (DAs); government officials and experts are
required to work on increasing the use of modern farm inputs by illiterates; micro finance
institutions have to do more on awareness creation programs and finally, proper attention should
be given by government officials to educate the illiterates how they could actively be involved
in local administration and enjoy their full rights in the building of democratic systems
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Keywords
Education