Socio Economic Determinants of Poverty Status Among Ginger Farmers in Southern Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Poverty in Nigeria is pervasive, endemic and is predominantly so in the rural areas where majority of the households are farmers. This study was conducted in the Southern parts of Kaduna State covering three Local Government Areas (LGAs); Kachia, jaba and Kagarko, to determine the factors that influence poverty and its intensity among ginger farmers. Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select the 3 LGAs, 9 wards and 440 respondents. Data were generated using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The results showed that over 56% of the respondents fell below the poverty line of N684 (US$ 1.90) per day. The results also revealed that the poverty gap index was 41.71% while the poverty severity index was 29.40%. Major factors that significantly determined the poverty status of the respondents were level of education, farm income and dependency ratio, while only farm income and dependency ratio significantly (P<0.01) influenced the intensity of poverty. Inadequate capital, poor pricing of produce and delays in the supply of inputs and credit were among major constraint identified. Recommendations were proffered to include the formation and membership of cooperative and farmers groups.

Key words: Determinants poverty status ginger farmers.

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-8-02

Publication date: April 30^th 2019