Residents' perception of coping and alleviating strategies of poverty in rural areas of Ayedaade local government, Osun State, Nigeria.

The attempts of government in eradicating poverty are always based on a government's view of what rural dwellers need. Without the rural dwellers themselves assessing their level of poverty, ascertaining their coping strategies and their needs for poverty alleviation; the desired goal of a government in reducing poverty cannot be achieved. This paper thus examined the perception of rural dwellers on coping and alleviating strategies of poverty in rural areas of Ayedaade local government area, Osun State. Questionnaires were administered to three hundred and sixty-eight household heads who were selected across the twenty-five villages in five rural wards of the study area. Poverty was assessed based on the perception of residents. Data were analysed using percentage distribution and Geographical Information System technique. The result of the findings reveals that 57.9% reported themselves as being poor. Poverty based on residents' perception was denser in the southern part than in the northern part of the study area. Hardworking (25.5%) and gathering of the remnant fruits (23.1%) were the most adopting coping strategies in the area. Residents identified provision of infrastructure (54.7%) and financial assistance (18.2%) as crucial poverty alleviating strategies. The study concluded that the dividend of democracy can only be effective if a government considers the perceptions of rural residents in planning and provision for poverty alleviation in rural areas. This study recommends that the government should consider the residents' perception in planning and execution of poverty alleviation in their areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]