REVIEW OF THE INFLUENCE OF FARM HOUSE HOLD, LIVELIHOOD ASSETS AND DIVERSIFICATION ON THE LIVELIHOOD STATUS OF FARMERS IN RURAL AREA OF BORNO AND KEBBI STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

Rural agriculture is subject to local variation in weather condition and thus expected variation in income level and access to food. There is need to diversify sources of income in to multiple agricultural and/or non-agricultural base livelihood systems. Livelihood system encompasses means, relations and process of production, as well as house hold management strategies. Livelihood strategies are action taken and choices made to achieve livelihood goals, including production activities, investment strategies and maternity arrangement. In general, the condition and the nature of the livelihood assets owned by the family or individual are the basis for understanding choice opportunities, livelihood strategies, and the risk environment of the family or individual. People must own different types of livelihood assets to achieve positive livelihood results. The way in which farmers try to improve their livelihoods is widely diverge. This is heterogeneity result from house hold characteristics such as; difference in size or composition of household and their internal dynamics the assets owned or the access to land or water and by land, but by local land properties, climate and the history of management. In order to understand livelihood it is not enough to consider only the house hold because many action, choices and decision are response to external signals and constraints. In conclusion farmers livelihood are not only influence by their house hold characteristics and attitude but also by broader structure and forces which on their turn are co-shaped by process of globalization and liberalization.