ANALYSIS OF POVERTY, RISK AND COPING STRATEGIES OF IRISH POTATO FARMERS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

ANALYSIS OF POVERTY, RISK AND COPING STRATEGIES OF IRISH POTATO FARMERS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract:

This study was conducted toanalyse poverty,risk and coping strategies of irish potato farmers in selected Local Government Areas of Plateau state. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 150farmers for the study. Primary data were used and these were collected with aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Foster Greer and Thorbeck, regression model involving Tobit, multiple regression and Logit were employed to analyze the data.The results revealed that the mean age of the farmers was 48. The average household size is 7 members and the average potato farming experience was 16 years. Only 15.3 percent do not have formal education. The average farm size was estimated to be 1.8 hectares. Majority of the farmers (82.7 percent) had no contact with extension agent. It was found that 63.3 percent had no access to credit. About 68 percent did not belong to any cooperative association. About 43, 29, 28 percent of the irish potato farmers belong to non-poor, moderate poor and core poor poverty profile respectively. The determinants of poverty in the study area were farming experience, sex, household size, education, amount of credit received. It was found thatmarketing risk had the highest level of risk with a mean of 0.6. The study revealed that irrigation, spreading of sales over time period, and holding cash (savings) were the most pronounced risk-coping strategies adopted. The determinants of risk-coping strategy adopted in the study area were age, farming experience, sex, household size, dependency ratio, farm size and amount of credit received. These variables were positively related to the number of risk-coping strategies adopted. Risk-coping strategy was also found to be significantly related with the poverty status of the respondents in the study area. The estimated coefficient (-2.73) obtained for risk-coping strategy was negative and significant at 5 percent level of probability. This implied that as risk-coping strategies increase, poverty status of the respondents also decreases. Also it was found that mixed cropping contributed the most to poverty reduction. The study recommended that government and private insurance companies should develop more effective insurance product for irish potato farmers to patronize and use as shock absorbers against risky events.

ANALYSIS OF POVERTY, RISK AND COPING STRATEGIES OF IRISH POTATO FARMERS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Sharing is caring!