RURAL HOUSEHOLDS LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES FOR POVERTY REDUCTION IN CENTRAL PART OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA 1 2

• D.T. Rukwe

  National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria.

  Author

• E. Aboki

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

  Author

• D. Alauta

  National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria.

  Author

• S.G. Baraya

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

  Author

The study aimed at rural households livelihood strategies for poverty reduction in Central part of Taraba State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed for the study. Primary data were collected from 152 sample rural households through interview. Descriptive statistics cluster analysis, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index and logit model were used to analyze the data. The major livelihood activities engaged by households are crop production (96.05%), Agricultural produce value addition/processing (73.68%) and Marketing of Agricultural produce (71.71%). The finding found that the major livelihood strategies employed by the rural households were on-farm, off-farm and non-farm (98.03%) to achieve their livelihood goal(s). About 61% of the rural households in the study area were poor. Logit regression results confirm that age, education, insecurity, farm size, poverty status and dependency ratio have a statistically significant impact on the household’s choice of livelihood strategies. The study concluded that diversification across livelihood strategy and combinations of activities help households to increases the probability of their maintaining livelihood security. It recommended that intervention policies as well as actions directed towards improving the livelihood of the rural poor should focus on mechanism that facilitates livelihood diversification in generating additional income sources.

1. D.T. Rukwe, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria.

   National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria.

2. E. Aboki, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

   Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

3. D. Alauta, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria.

   National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria.

4. S.G. Baraya, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

   Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

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