Estimating Multidimensional Poverty among Cassava Producers in Nigeria: Patterns and Socioeconomic Determinants

Luke Oyesola Olarinde, Adebayo Busura Abass, Tahirou Abdoulaye, Adebusola Adenike Adepoju, Emmanuel Gbenga Fanifosi, Matthew Olufemi Adio, Obadiah Adekunle Adeniyi and Awoyale Wasiu
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Luke Oyesola Olarinde: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso 210214, Oyo State, Nigeria
Adebayo Busura Abass: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Regional Hub for Eastern Africa, Dar es Salaam PO Box 34441, Tanzania
Tahirou Abdoulaye: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road 200001, Ibadan, Nigeria
Adebusola Adenike Adepoju: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso 210214, Oyo State, Nigeria
Emmanuel Gbenga Fanifosi: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso 210214, Oyo State, Nigeria
Matthew Olufemi Adio: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso 210214, Oyo State, Nigeria
Obadiah Adekunle Adeniyi: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso 210214, Oyo State, Nigeria
Awoyale Wasiu: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road 200001, Ibadan, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: The scourge of poverty, including its correlates, has been witnessing an incremental sequence over the years in Nigeria despite the natural endowment of the country. Efforts by various stakeholders to address this problem have not yielded tangible results. Using cross-sectional data collected in 2015 on 775 cassava farmers spread across four geographical zones, this study estimates multidimensional poverty of cassava producers in Nigeria. This is to determine the factors responsible for poverty increase and contribution(s) of these factors to poverty. The study found that about 74% of the respondents were multidimensionally poor. Assets and public/housing utility were the main contributors to aggregate multidimensional poverty index (MPI), while education and health contributed most to povertyreduction. The results also showed major contributing indicators to MPI to be formal employment, school enrolment, years of schooling, frequency of hospital visits, and household assets’ ownership. The South-eastzone of Nigeria had the highest adjusted headcount of poverty among cassava producers. The estimated coefficient of age, farming experience, years of schooling, household size, and access to informal credit were significant determinants of poverty in the study area. In conclusion, the results suggest that although Nigeria is a federation of more than 30 states that continue to rely on nation-wide policy initiatives of the central government, policies on cassava aiming to lift millions of people out of poverty should instead vary according to the peculiar poverty dimensions of each federation unit. We suggest reform in the agriculture sector that will emphasize facilitation and access to incentives (credits, training, extension, cooperate system, etc.) by younger farmers to engage in modern cassava farming, thereby, enhancing the chances of rural cassava growers to move out of poverty.

Keywords: multidimensional poverty index; cassava; intensity of poverty; young farmers; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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