Effect of Resource Productivity of Maize-Based Farmers on Poverty Reduction in South West, Nigeria

Abstract

The ability of Nigerian agriculture to perform its role in the development of the economy has been on the decline in the last three decades. Therefore, the 2030 Agenda's historic commitment to rid the world of the twin scourges of poverty and hunger cannot become a reality if nothing is done about improving resource productivity so as to reduce poverty. This article examined the effect of resource productivity of maize-based farmers on poverty reduction in South-West, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 180 respondents and data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The stochastic frontier production function, poverty index and probit regression model were used to analyze data from the study. Results showed that age, farming experience, cooperative membership, credit, extension visits, farm distance, and land ownership were significant determinants of efficiency of maize-based farmers. The poverty incidence, poverty gap and poverty severity were 42%, 50% and 11.2% respectively. Results further showed that efficiency and other variables were significant determinants of poverty among respondents in the study area. Policies that facilitate increased production of maize, increased level of education, increased cooperative membership, and access to credit are essential to help reducing poverty among maize-based farmers and among the rural poor in general.