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Determinants of decision to engage in multiple income generating activities among male and female headed cassava based farm households in Umuahia Agricultural Zone, Abia State


C.S. Onwusiribe

Abstract

The study determined factors influencing decision to embark on multiple income generating activities by male and female headed cassava based farm households in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia state. Data for this study was collected using a Purposive and multistage random sampling techniques for the selection of 144 cassava- based farm households (consisting of 72 male-headed and 72 female-headed). Primary data was elicited by use of a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and probit regression analytical model. The composition of total income from different income sources in male and female- headed cassava based farm households revealed that all male and female- headed cassava farm households earned income primarily from farming, which accounted for 48.07% and 56.69% of annual total incomes in male and female- headed cassava farm households respectively. Important factors that influenced decision to engage in multiple income generation activities by male and female headed farm households in the study area were age and annual profit. Household size, education, access to credit, and value of tangible income generating assets were important factors influencing decision to engage in multiple income generating activities among the male farmers and farm size and livestock number for the female farmer. The important constraints militating against farm income generation by male-headed and femaleheaded cassava farm households were; access to credit and inadequate power supply/ inadequate storage facilities. The results therefore call for policies aimed at upgrading technologies for agricultural production to further improve equity in distribution of income.

Keywords: Multiple Incomes generating activities, cassava based farm households and gender


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print ISSN: 0300-368X