| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the factors that determine poverty levels in rural areas. The specific
objectives of the study were; it also examined how limited access to the market determine
poverty levels in rural areas, assessed how limited access to affordable power supply contributes
to the poverty levels in rural areas and established how the production of poor quality products
increases the poverty levels in rural areas of Uganda
The study used a case study research design with quantitative and qualitative research techniques
using a total sample size of 44 respondents. Data was collected using self-administered
questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
It was observed that limited access to market limits the exposure to the client population
resulting into reduced customer base, limited access to market prevents access to labor resulting
into poor production, and limited access to market has led to few job opportunities outside of
agriculture. It was discovered that poor quality products result into lack of demand for the
products leading to limited market thus low earnings, it was also exposed that poor quality
products lead to high competitiveness resulting in price cutting thus less profitability. It was also
concluded that, limited access to modern forms of energy has limited to the transformation of
agriculture-based economy, has reduced employment opportunities, which in turn has directly
increased poverty levels and is an obstacle to delivery of services such as education, health, and
other social services. It was further concluded that limited access to power supply has hindered
the construction of agro-based industries in rural areas thus limiting income-earning
opportunities to farmers, has limited business expansion and the starting of business ventures that
would need power for operation.
Finally, it is recommended that the government should properly define poverty in the legislation
and thus provide a vision of poverty that can elicit support and action from government, private
sector and non-governmental agencies. It is also important to recognize that people living in
poverty are the most critical ally of the government in reducing poverty. Working with them in
changing their circumstances is another means of building our provincial economy, and
acknowledging that they are an asset to the society | en_US |
