Abstract JSSP

Analysis of Spatial Concentration of Community Poverty and Environmental Resource Base in Kwara State Nigeria

Oluseyi O. FABIYI 1
1 Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Geographic Information System, Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys, Ile-Ife, NIGERIA
E-mail: seyifabiyi@yahoo.com
Pages: 227-238

Abstract. A number of approaches have been suggested and used by researchers, academic and experts in development industry to measure, monitor and compare poverty incidence and conditions at the community level in different geographic spaces. Poverty measurement and analysis have dominated the development research field in the last two decades. The paper explores the computation of community poverty index from poverty survey data for the Local Government Areas in Kwara state, Nigeria. It examines the linkages between poverty indices with the environmental resource endowments within the Local Government Areas using satellite remote sensing image. The results show that there is spatial concentration of poverty in the communities of the local government areas. Higher incidences of poverty conditions are found in the rural communities while urban local government areas are well off. We also identify social capital as a major variable affecting the spatial concentration of community poverty among the communities. However, rural communities have more economic enhancement potential for development but high infrastructural poverty, low social capital hindering the utilization of the natural wealth for economic advancement of the communities. Only Ilorin city is a generative urban area and has the potential for enhancing economic well-being of the population while other cities in the states are more parasitic than generative. The study proposes a blending of social capital and infrastructural intervention to enhance economic well-being of the rural dwellers in the study area and elsewhere. We assume that a community may have environmental resources for economic advancement but without adequate social and fiscal infrastructure, resources may remain untapped and may not be deployed for economic advancement of the community members.

K e y w o r d s: poverty mapping, poverty indexing, environmental resources, community wealth








			Analysis of Spatial Concentration of Community Poverty and Environmental Resource Base in Kwara State Nigeria Oluseyi O. FABIYI 1 1 Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Geographic Information System, Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys, Ile-Ife, NIGERIA E-mail: seyifabiyi@yahoo.com Pages: 227-238 Abstract. A number of approaches have been suggested and used by researchers, academic and experts in development industry to measure, monitor and compare poverty incidence and conditions at the community level in different geographic spaces. Poverty measurement and analysis have dominated the development research field in the last two decades. The paper explores the computation of community poverty index from poverty survey data for the Local Government Areas in Kwara state, Nigeria. It examines the linkages between poverty indices with the environmental resource endowments within the Local Government Areas using satellite remote sensing image. The results show that there is spatial concentration of poverty in the communities of the local government areas. Higher incidences of poverty conditions are found in the rural communities while urban local government areas are well off. We also identify social capital as a major variable affecting the spatial concentration of community poverty among the communities. However, rural communities have more economic enhancement potential for development but high infrastructural poverty, low social capital hindering the utilization of the natural wealth for economic advancement of the communities. Only Ilorin city is a generative urban area and has the potential for enhancing economic well-being of the population while other cities in the states are more parasitic than generative. The study proposes a blending of social capital and infrastructural intervention to enhance economic well-being of the rural dwellers in the study area and elsewhere. We assume that a community may have environmental resources for economic advancement but without adequate social and fiscal infrastructure, resources may remain untapped and may not be deployed for economic advancement of the community members. K e y w o r d s: poverty mapping, poverty indexing, environmental resources, community wealth