V.U. Oboh, P.C. Ike,
A Gender Analysis of Poverty Gap among Farm Families in Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria,
Agricultural Journal,
Volume 4,Issue 6,
2009,
Pages 254-259,
ISSN 1816-9155,
aj.2009.254.259,
(https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=aj.2009.254.259)
Abstract: This study was carried out to estimate poverty gap between
female and male headed farm families in Ukwani Local Government Area (LGA) of
Delta State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 7
out of the 10 communities that make up the LGA. From each of these selected
communities 10 respondents were selected from a list of farm families drawn
with assistance of extension officers covering the area. This gave a total sample
size of 70 respondents. The study was conducted in 2008. Various methods were
employed in analyzing the data, including descriptive statistical tools and
inferential statistics such as t-test and ordinary least square regression analysis.
Results of the study indicate that the farmers were characteristically smallholders
with about 50% of males and 83% of female household heads having not >1.50
ha of farm. On the poverty levels of the households, it was found that the core
poverty and moderate poverty lines for male, female and all households were
x4078,
x2217 and
x3376 and
x8146,
x5435 and
x6752, respectively. This
implies that poverty was wide spread among the farm households especially the
female headed ones. A test analysis to determine the effect of selected socioeconomic
characteristics of the household heads on their levels of poverty indicates
that four variables were significantly related to the household poverty levels,
namely level of formal education, family size, farm size and household monthly
income (p≤0.05). A number of recommendations were made including the need
for family planning among the rural households so that they produce only the
number of children they can take care of to guarantee them minimum acceptable
standard of living.
Keywords: incidence of poverty;poverty gap;Gender analysis;poverty index;Delta state