The Effect Of Rural Poverty On Environmental Degradation

The Effect Of Rural Poverty On Environmental Degradation

Chapiter 1

Introduction

History of the Study

A social issue that has deeply ingrained itself in society is poverty.

political, social, and economic aspects of each society

organizations. Consequently, it is a social issue that has impacted the

every economy’s producing sectors, including the agricultural and industrial ones

sector, just to name a few. Aluk (2011) asserts that poverty is

being incapable of controlling one’s basic needs for consuming, including

housing, food, and clothing. According to World Band (2005), poverty is

being unable to meet a minimal standard of living. Environmental

On the other side, deterioration is described as how the environment is

influenced by various factors, including floods, deforestation,

excessive grazing, the use of dangerous pesticides, and environmental

environmental pollution.

Rural communities have higher rates of poverty than metropolitan ones. This evaluation

can be supported by an analysis of the concentration of

institutions and activities in the economy. It cannot be disputed that economic

Only in metropolitan areas are institutions concentrated, leading to greater

prospects for employment, a comfortable life, and what may be acquired in the

The countryside (Ahmed, 2010).

Comparative investigation of how income level influences the

both rural and urban areas’ standards of living and quality of life

settlements are made, which is a version of the social

link between the distribution of limited resources, the art of production, and

When it comes to distribution, the issue of who benefits comes to mind.

Moreover, there is a significant divide between rural and urban residents.

affects the movement and management of products, services, and

(Maxwell, 2006) Prices.

Numerous studies have shown that there is a powerful social

link between environmental damage and poverty. Here is

as a result of elements like income level, product quality, and price,

services have an impact on rural residents’ quality of life.

influencing how they behave in relation to the surroundings. The majority of the

Poor people, especially in developing nations, rely on natural resources.

resources for their subsistence, therefore these individuals are extremely vulnerable

to bringing about environmental issues.

The Apa Local Government Area has a largely rural population and

75% of her people rely on agriculture as their primary source of income.

based on the rural aspect of her economy, crops, and occupation

Tubers are abundantly produced, accounting for more than 5% of the

women and children make up the majority of the labor force.

force. The administration has been making attempts for a while now,

corporate entities and irrigation companies to reduce the frequency of

Intentional policies and practices have caused environmental degradation in the area.

programs designed to reduce poverty among rural residents, but

The main barrier to development continues to be poverty.

of rural residents.

Because of this, this study is designed to look into the

environmental damage caused by poverty with regard to Apa

state of Benue’s local government region.

1.2 Definition of the Issue

In his assessment of poverty and environmental issues, Nwagbara (2012)

assets for sustainable degradation and development that the poor have

typically been held responsible for the majority of society’s problems.

problems.

Anijah-Obi (2001) notes that poverty is a terrible condition for people to be in.

Welfare and environmental damage are intimately related. Poor people are

both the cause of and participants in environmental harm. Poverty could

generated by unfavorable and unjust societal circumstances, like structural

inequality. People who are hungry and in poverty frequently endanger their

in order to survive, their immediate environs. They are in charge of

cultivating worn-out soil and removing trees from forests. They discharge trash into

because they lack the essentials of life, gutters and streams.

They lack the goods and resources needed to live in a

a minimal need that promotes the wellbeing and dignity of people.

The impoverished in Apa local government rely heavily on firewood for

it necessitates the removal of trees without replacement for cooking. There

are two principal channels in the local government that act as sources of funding.

of both home and industrial water supply for its residents, this

are the Okpeje and Ochi-Chi streams. fishing activities that include

chemicals, the disposal of trash in waterways and streams, and open

Deification and soil mining for granite and lime stone

some of the most serious environmental issues caused by humans

activities. This has continued to have a significant negative impact on the

breakout of the cholera virus and related health issues

mostly affect the poor because of their incapacity to

search for alternate water sources to the two that are now poisoned

and trash disposal that is not done properly causing environmental contamination.

Therefore, it is necessary for this study to look at how poverty affects

environmental degradation in Benue State’s Apa local government area.

1.3 Research Issues

Advanced research questions are used to direct this investigation.

How does poverty contribute to environmental harm?

What effects does poverty have on environmental deterioration in Apa

local administration?

What strategies might be used to address the issue of poverty on

Degradation of the environment in the local government of Apa?

Goals for the Study

This study’s main goal is to investigate the impact of

poverty’s impact on the state of the environment in Apa’s local government area

State of Benue. The particular goals are to;

find out how poverty affects the environment

Learn how poverty affects environmental deterioration in Apa.

local authority

Put forth strategies that could be used to help the issue of

environmental degradation and poverty in Apa local government

Objectivity of the Study

The following firsts and first-time events will make this study significant:

First and foremost, the study’s findings will be used to create a policy paper.

assisting the government, decision-makers, and environmentalists in reducing

environmental degradation’s consequences on rural impoverished people.

Second, it will be significant for the academic setting as it

can serve as a starting point for knowledge on poverty

and societal environmental challenges.

Third, the study will add to the body of knowledge that already exists in

environmental degradation and poverty-related literature.

Not least of all, the study will support further researchers who

aim to conduct related research on the same subject to have a

the context of the subject matter they plan to study.

Research Hypotheses

The following presumptions will inform this study’s research:

Ho. There is no discernible connection between poverty and

Degradation of the environment in Apa local government

The Study’s Purpose

The Ogantelle towns of will serve as the limit of this study’s scope.

Apa local government areas with more intensive farming and

degredation. Major Apa neighborhoods including Auke, Iga-Okpaya, and Oiji

The Edikwu I and II wards of Igoro, Ikobi, Ojope, Ogantele, Oba, and

a time period from 2010 to 2013 is covered.

1.8 Terns explained

According to Sachs (2009), there are several ways to define poverty.

there are three distinct degrees. the following: extreme poverty, moderate

poverty, both absolute and relative. In cases of extreme poverty, the family

cannot meet their own survival needs. On the other hand, moderate poverty

the generic term for living circumstances where essential necessities are not met

met, but only to a minimal extent, while relative poverty is interpreted

as a household income below a certain percentage of the national average

national earnings. To put it another way, poverty is described as the

the inability of a person to meet their basic necessities, such as

food, clothes, and armor.

Environmental Degradation: Degradation of the environment means a

decrease in environmental quality up to the point where it can no longer

reduces the ability to meet the environmental needs of the current generation.

Future generations’ futures are in danger. based on Fritsch et al.

According to al. (1990), environmental deterioration is a man-made phenomenon.

detrimental effects of environmental change on human society. It can

be characterized as processes that are brought on by human behavior and activity

that harm the natural environment (sometimes in conjunction with natural disasters)

resource basis or negatively impact ecosystems or natural processes.