Promoting implementation of sustainable development goals in rural Nigeria: I. Poverty issues and its determinants among cassava-based farming households in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, cross river state, Nigeria

Abstract

Issues of poverty and their major determinants among Cassava-Based Farming Households in Akpabuyo, Cross River state, Nigeria were studied. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of wards and cassava-based farming households, while primary data were collected using well-structured questionnaires administered to 103 households and analyzed using standard descriptive statistics, poverty indices and logistic regression models. Socioeconomic statistics of the households showed that the percentages of male to female farmers differed considerably, with 59% of the households consisting of married men and women, 33% were aged 46 years and above. 98% of the households were Christians, 38% had no formal education, and 48% of the total number of the households had less than 4-member family sizes. The poverty line was estimated at N2, 933.25, equivalence of $7. Incidence of poverty among the cassava-based farming households was aggregated at 49% percent, but incidences were observed at thirty four (34%) percent for males and (52%) percent for females. The depth of poverty for cassava-based male farmers was 15% while that of females was 20 percent. The severity of poverty was determined at 9 percent and 11 percents for male- and female-headed households respectively. The strength of association between the dependent and the independent variable was estimated at 0.715, using Nagel Kerke’s coefficient R2 (p>0.05). In order that farming households in Akpabuyo LGA contribute their quota to overall aim of Nigeria to end all forms of poverty by the year 2030, it is recommended that more of the young and energetic youth population be encouraged to engage themselves more in cassava production enterprises and more women, especially the female-headed households and the vulnerable should be empowered to engage in cassava farming. Large household sizes should be discouraged and more incentives should be provided for more household heads. More of the cassava-based farming households should be encouraged to optimally expand the sizes of their cassava farm lands and empowered to diversify their sources of income. Finally, more of the cassava-based farmers in the area should be persuaded to form and/or join cooperative societies so as to build and benefit from ensuing “social capital”.