Determinants of Poverty Status among Crop and Fish Farmers in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The research study was carried out to determine the poverty status and their determinants among crop and fish farmers in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was adopted to select crop farmers and fish farmers’ households in the study area. The data used for this study were obtained from primary sources. Data were obtained through validated structured questionnaires. The determinant of poverty among crop farmers and fish farmers was analyzed using logistic regression, while poverty indicators were analyzed using the three indicators of poverty as highlighted in the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) model. Result of analysis on the incidence of poverty shows that about 52.5% of crop farmers and 62.5% of fish farmers in the area had their per capita income less than the poverty line income. The result also showed that poverty depths of 0.342 for crop farmers and 0.309 for fish farmers in the area. Similarly, the severity of the poverty index was 0.252 for crop farming households and 0.221 for fish farmers’ headed households. On the determinants of crop farmers, gender, age, marital status education, farm size and membership of association were all found to be positive and significant determinants, while education, credit, farm income and experience were the positive and significant determinant of poverty among fish farmers in the area. The following are recommended: credit delivery mechanism which is without or with very minimal stringent conditions (such as the provision of collateral) targeting the poor crop farming and fishing households should be implemented and improved crop farmers/fishermen access to technological information.