AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development

POVERTY STATUS AND PRODUCTIVITY AMONG SMALLHOLDER RICE FARMERS IN IKOT EKPENE AGRICULTURAL ZONE, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Author:  Agom, D. I., Aaron, E. M., and Ilyasu B. Mohammed

Abstract
This study analyzed the Poverty status and productivity of smallholder rice farmers in Akwa Ibom State. The data were collected from 80 smallholder rice farmers in Ikot Ekpene Agricultural Zone of Akwa Ibom State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, FGT poverty index, TFP index, and the ordinary least squares model. The findings indicated a high poverty incidence of 61.4% in the study area. The study further revealed that the total factor productivity estimates of the smallholder rice farmers peaked among the non-poor category with average TFP index of 3.3, but lesser in the poor category with an average TFP index of 2.3. Education (0.159), experience (0.023), farm size (2.779), quantity of seeds (0.263) and pests and diseases (0.818) significantly affected TFP of smallholder rice farmers in both categories. it is recommended that, financial and other credit facilities should be made accessible and affordable to the rice farmers in the study area to reduce poverty and increase productivity. Again, the productivity index was higher among the non-poor category than the poor and pooled category. As such various productivity parameters such as improved varieties, incentives and subsidies should be made available to the poor smallholder rice farmers so as to push them above the poverty line.