Effect of maize production on poverty reduction among maize farmers in Makurdi local government area of Benue state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the effect of maize production on poverty reduction among maize farmers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling technique to select 100 maize farmers as respondents. Data for the study were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the factors influencing production of maize in the study area revealed that farming experience (0.052) significant at 1%, off-farm income (1.35) significant at 1%, soil type (0.346) significant at 5%, rain-fed and irrigation (0.334) significant at 10% and season (0.60) significant at 1% were all positive and statistically significant which implied that they have influence on the production of maize. Most (67.0%) of the maize farmers are males with the mean age of 41.76 years. It was further revealed that most (60.0%) maize farmers in the study area are above the poverty line. On the effect of maize production to poverty reduction, the coefficient of increased income (1.05017) and improved standard of living (0.83657) were positive and significant at 10% level of probability poverty reduction among maize farmers. Contribution of maize production to income generation among maize farmers revealed that source of food (82.0%) is the major contributor to income generation in the study area. The study concluded that increased income and improved standard of living as the result of maize production reduced poverty among the maize farmers. It was therefore recommended that Government should provide irrigation, improved yield and disease resistant varieties to farmers to enhance maize production in the area.