Determinants of multidimensional poverty index for smallholder organic and non-organic vegetable farming household in southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Households in Nigeria with agriculture as their main source of income have the greatest poverty rates, particularly those practicing non-organic farming  due to the use of inorganic and agrochemicals, which has resulted in poor soil health and low agricultural production. As a result, organic farming has  the potential to lift such farmers out of poverty. Therefore, this study assessed the determinants of the multidimensional poverty index for smallholder organic and non-organic vegetable farming households in Ekiti and Oyo states, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to sample 384 vegetable  households using a multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using the Multidimensional Poverty Index and multiple regression models.  According to the findings, organic households were less deprived and had a higher standard of living than non-organic farmers. Farmers are thus  encouraged to adopt organic farming due to the positive effects it has on the general well-being and living conditions of organic adopter.