EFFECT OF LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION ON THE POVERTY LEVELS OF RURAL FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of livelihood diversification on the poverty levels of rural farming households in Southwest Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select a total of 300 respondents in the study area. Primary data were collected on rural farming household’s socio-economic characteristics, indicators of poverty such as food and non-food expenditure with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Foster Greer and Thorbecke model, and Tobit regression. Tobit regression estimates revealed that sex of the household heads, marital status, years of formal education, household size, farm size, farming experience, dependent ratio and household assets and livelihood diversification affects the poverty levels of farming households. Hence, livelihood diversification opportunities should be strengthened by exposing farming households to training on what they can venture into to boost their income.