Poverty analysis of cassava farming households in Osun State

The study examined the poverty status as well as analysed the factors affecting poverty profile of cassava farming households in Osun State. Primary data were obtained from 180 cassava farmers by multistage random sampling with the aid of well-structured questionnaire and interview schedule. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer Thorbecke index and Tobit regression model. The results of descriptive statistics revealed that 85.6% of cassava farmers were male with majority (50.0%) between 31 and 50 years of age who were married (85.0%) with relatively large household members. The results also showed that 73.3% of them acquired farmland by inheritance and had formal education. The results of FGT analysis showed that poverty incidence was 28.9%, poverty depth was 5.3% and poverty severity was 1.5%. Meanwhile, Tobit regression model results revealed that household size, farming experience and revenue generated from cassava farms were factors affecting the poverty profile of the farming households. The study therefore recommends that farmers in the study area could reduce their poverty depth by controlling the number of child births, increase revenue generated from cassava farm and frequent. Key words: Cassava, households, poverty, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke index, Tobit regression model.