IJBSAT 2017 Volume 8 Issue 8

International Journal of BioSciences, Agriculture and Technology (IJBSAT) ISSN: 0975 - 4539

IJBST Journal Group -- Open Access -- NO Fees -- NO Processing Charges -- 100% Non Profit Initiatives

The IJBST Journal Group subscribes to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and the The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Determinants of Poverty among Arable Crop Farmers Using Sustainable Soil Management Techniques in Imo State, Nigeria. Emeka Emmanuel Osuji, Adanna Henri-Ukoha. IJBSAT (2017), 8(8):55-63

Full Text Pdf:

Title:

Determinants of Poverty among Arable Crop Farmers Using Sustainable Soil Management Techniques in Imo State, Nigeria

Authors & Affiliation:

Emeka Emmanuel Osuji1, Adanna Henri-Ukoha2

1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria

2 Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Port Harcourt Choba, Nigeria

osujiemeka2@yahoo.com, adanna.henri-ukoha@uniport.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Low income of the arable crop farmers is sine qua-non to abject poverty associated with most of the farmers; hence the study evaluated the determinants of poverty among arable crop farmers using sustainable soil management techniques (SSMT) in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 209 arable crop farmers for this study. Information on the objectives of this study was elicited from the sampled respondents through a well structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, Foster-Greer Thorbeck (FGT) model and the Logit model. Results showed that the mean per capita consumption expenditure among the farm households was N360.30 ($1.81) with a poverty line of N240.20 ($1.21) per person, per day. The incidence of poverty among the farm households increased with advancing age of the household heads. Poverty headcount, gap and severity were 0.766, 0.614 and 0.713, respectively. Variables such as age of farmer, education, household size, access to micro credit, net farm income, extension contacts and participation in agricultural workshop were significant and important determinants of poverty levels among arable crop farmers in the area. Hence, polices on income savings, diversification and redistribution should be encouraged amongst the arable crop farmers to drive poverty reduction in the area.

Key words: Determinants; poverty; arable crop farmers; SSMT; FGT model