The study assessed farm and non-farm income diversification activities among rural households in Southeast, Nigeria. Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to collection data from three hundred and sixty (360) rural households using structured interview schedule. Means, percentage and frequency count were used to analyse the objectives of the study. The result showed that 82.5 % of rural households diversified their income sources into other non-farm activities as against 17.5% that depended solely to farm activities. Further analysis indicated that 64.4 % of the rural households engaged in crop production, 46.9 % practiced livestock production, 5% were into collection of forestry products, 13.1 % engaged in farm products processing while 23.3 % engaged in storage and marketing of agricultural products. However, the various non-farm activities diversified into by the households were: petty trading (53.53 %), storage and marketing of agricultural commodities (31.31 %), sale of landed property (15.82 %), agricultural wage labour (16.84 %) and hire purchase (9.09 %). Others included rental services (19.52 %), transportation (example taxis, motorcycle and tri-cycle business) (21.21 %), craftsmanship (13.46 %) and civil/public service jobs (28.28 %). The study recommended that government should improve rural infrastructures like good road network, electrification, potable water, telecommunication service, and affordable healthcare system since they are important for enhancing socio-economic activities. It is also recommended that government should initiate policy for reducing risk and uncertainties inherent in agricultural activities in order to encourage farmers to remain in the business of farming.
The study examined the socio-economic factors influencing poverty among rural households in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, Nigeria. The study adopted multistage random and purposive sampling techniques to select 120 household heads. Primary data used for the study were collected using structured questionnaire. The data were analysed with the aid of means, percentage and frequency count and OLS multiple regression model. The result indicated that the households spent an average of N31,250 monthly to take care of their families and other essential personal needs. The result of the socio-economic characteristics showed that majority (53.3) of the respondents were females. The mean age was 36 years with majority (64.2%) married while an average of 6 persons per household was recorded. The predominant occupations were farming (36.0%) and civil service (35.8%). The households cultivated a mean farm size of 3.8 hectares, the mean monthly income was N19,720 while their average monthly expenditure amounted to N31,250. Moreover, 73.3% of the respondents belonged to one social organization or the other with over 90.0% of them having acquired various forms of formal education. The multiple regression result showed the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.644 or 64.4%. The overall model was statistically significant (P<0.05), signifying that the selected socio-economic characteristics of the households have significant influence on their poverty level. The coefficients of age, sex, educational attainment, household size, farm size, income and membership of social groups were statistically significant. The hypothesis tested led to the conclusion that the selected socio-economic characteristics have significant influence on the poverty level of the households. The study recommended improvement of socio-economic attributes that improve the poverty level of rural households. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 9 (1): 8-13, June, 2019
The paucity of empirical evidence to show the correlation between microcredit and poverty reduction in North-East, Nigeria led to the study on the effect of microcredit on poverty reduction among rural farm households. Multi-stage random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select 200 farm households who constituted the sample size. Data were collected primarily using structured questionnaire and analysed with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed informal microcredit as the major source of credit for farm households. The result further indicated that 46% of the loan applied for was disbursed, resulting to 47% rise in farm household’s income. Meanwhile, 62% of farm households surveyed were poor with poverty depth of 0.43 and poverty severity at 0.38. The regression analysis on the effect of microcredit on the income of the farm households revealed that the coefficient of income was positive and statistically significant at 1% probability. The effect of microcredit on the poverty profile of farm households revealed that microcredit exerts negative influence on poverty profile of farm households in the study area. The study recommends: the establishment of robust rural credit scheme in rural areas; and institution of policy framework that will enable poor rural households without appropriate collateral to access funds for farm and non-farm activities.
The study analysed farmers’ income and savings pattern in Benue State. Both multi-stage random and purposive sampling procedures were employed to select 140 respondents for the study. The study employed primary data which were collected through the use of the structured questionnaire. The result showed that farm size, level of access to credit, diversification of income sources, types of investment and risks inherent in the business are the major determinants of the income level of the small scale farmers. The farmers engaged in the following farm activities, crop production, hunting, fishing, gathering of forest products, marketing of agricultural products and livestock production. Meanwhile, trading, teaching, and non-farm wage labour were the main non-farm activities they engaged in. The result equally showed that farmers adopted both formal and informal savings methods but have higher preference for the informal method as indicated by their preference for savings in rotational savings and credit Association (ESUSU) and daily contribution schemes. Educational attainment, annual income, farming experience, and farm size had positive influence on the farmers’ savings pattern. The test of the hypothesis indicated that the socio-economic characteristics of the small scale farmers have significant effects on the savings pattern adopted in the area. Consequently, the study recommended the establishment of banks in the rural area so as to increase farmers’ savings capacity in formal sector; establishment of enlightenment programme to create awareness among the rural farmers, and introduction of risk reduction policy to minimize risks associated with farming, thereby encouraging farmers to remain in farming business.Keywords: Farm activities, non-farm activities, farmers, formal and informal savings
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