Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Rural Development (Poverty and Inequality in the Rural Area): A Study of Esukmbat and Esinufoteyamba in Edem Odo Clan of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The participatory rural appraisal and rural development study embarked upon by PhD students of the Department of Public Administration, University of Calabar, Calabar, was conducted in Esuk Mbat and Esin Ufot Eyamba in Edem Odo Clan of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study utilizes the descriptive statistics to analyze its data. It was observed that the problem of poverty, unemployment, low-income generation, insecurity and social vices were common place in the rural communities investigated. Indeed, the incidence of poverty remains very high with the dearth of health care facilities, schools, tarred roads, standard markets, and good drinking water, among others. This implies that the rural underdevelopment of these rural community has reached unprecedented rate, resulting to a very low standard of living for the rural folks. Besides, the concern has been that rural poverty has become infectious, leading the rural folks to experience chains of rural impoverishment. It is on this premise that policy prescriptions were recommended.