Multidimensional poverty and commercialization level of sweet potato farmers in Kwara and Osun states

Abstract

Smallholder farming remains the livelihood of rural farmers who constitute majority of poverty ridden population in the rural area. Commercialization of smallholder farms has the potential to enhance food security, nutrition, incomes and welfare outcomes and takes smallholder farmers out of poverty. This study examined the Multidimensional Poverty and Commercialization level of Sweet Potato Farmers in Kwara and Osun States Multistage sampling technique was used to select 485 sweet potato farmers. An interview guide was used through structured questionnaire to obtain primary data which were analysed using multidimensional poverty index and commercialization index. The study revealed that majority the sweet potato farmers were considered to be multidimensionally poor, since majority of the indicators were above the cutoff level of deprivation level (36%). Also, the mean of agricultural commercialization level was 84% for the respondents. Indicating that majority of the respondent engaged in commercializing their agricultural crop. The study concludes that sweet potato farmers were multidimensional poor in the study areas. It is therefore recommended that Government and Non-Governmental Organizations involved in agricultural development should give more attention to rural development to reduce their multidimensional poverty level. Also, effort to encourage the commercial production and commercialization of sweet potatoes as a competitive alternative to yam by reducing its postharvest losses should be given the needed attention.