Determinants of Poverty among Farmers in Southern Part of Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: The study analyzed the determinants of poverty among farmers in Southern Part of Borno State, Nigeria. Methodology: Using multistage sampling technique, 120 farming households were sampled from 20 villages spread across five Local Government Areas in Southern part of the State. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on households' income, expenditure, value of free natural resources and information on the household livelihood-related factors. The data were analyzed using Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) model and Probit regression model. Findings: A poverty line of N8588.48 was estimated and was enough to provide household with basic requirements per month for existence (food and non-food). Based on the poverty line of N8588.48, the FGT measure showed that 64% of the farming households in the study area were poor; the average depth of the poor households from the poverty line was 48%, while 22% of the poor farming households were severely poor. The probit regression revealed that age of the household head (0.083) and number of dependents (0.063) were both positive and significant. On the other hand, education (-0.062), farming experience (-0.069), farm size (-0.097), annual income (-0.061) and access to formal credit (-0.030) were all negative and significant. Recommendations: The study therefore recommended that there is the need for policy makers and managers of poverty alleviation programmes to identify the poor at community levels so as to direct poverty alleviation programmes and projects towards them