EFFECTS OF EMIGRATION ON THE POVERTY STATUS OF FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Emigration has become a significant issue that cannot be overlooked globally as it is germane in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty. This study assessed the effects of emigration on the poverty status of farming households in Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 297 farmers were selected randomly from four Local Government Areas across the state. Structured interview schedule was used to obtain primary data from the farmers. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Foster-GreerThorbecke (FGT) index and probit regression model. The poverty classification revealed that 35.23% of the farmers were poor and 64.77% were non-poor. The estimated FGT indices for poverty incidence, depth and severity were 0.3523, 0.2669 and 0.0713 respectively. Probit regression analysis showed that emigration status of the farmers at p≤0.05 level of probability had significant positive effect on their poverty status. Other covariates: remittance (p≤0.01), household size (p≤0.01), years of education (p≤0.10), farm income (p≤0.01) and off-farm income (p≤0.01) also had significant effects on the porvety status of the farming households. The study concluded that emigration possess the potential to enhance poverty alleviation among the farming households in the area. Nonetheless, poverty remains a major issue in the area that cannot be overlooked by the government. ______________