ABSTRACT

The study analyzed cropping systems, intensification and poverty status of smallholder arable crop farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, examined the rate of use of the cropping systems practiced, determined the extent of crop intensification of the farmers, analysed the poverty status of the arable crop farmers, analyzed the determinants of cropping systems, intensification, and poverty status of the farmers, examined the relationship between cropping systems, intensification and poverty status of the farmers and estimated the impact of intensification and cropping systems on poverty status of the farmers. Multi-stage, simple random techniques were employed to select 120 respondents. Primary data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire through the aid of enumerators. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics; multinomial logit regression, probit regression, Analysis of Variance and Ordinary least square regression models were used for the data analysis. The result showed that mean age of the farmers was 50.5 years, while males dominated farming activities in the area. Also the mean household size was 7 persons per household. The mean farm size was 1.11 hectares. Majority (96.7%) of the respondents in the study area acquired one form of formal education or the other. The finding also showed that the major cropping system was Crop rotation (= 3.36). The field results on extent of agricultural intensification of the arable crop farmers revealed that the mean land use intensity index of farmers was 0.69, also the mean labour use intensity index was estimated at 24.14 mandays/ha while mean fertilizer use intensity index was 189kg/hectare. About 36.67 % of the arable crop farmers were considered being core poor; 32.50 % considered as being moderately poor while about 30.83 % of the arable crop farmers were considered to be non – poor. The Multinomial Logit Regression revealed that household size, income, age, farm size, experience and planting material were the main variables that significantly influenced cropping system in the area. Tobit regression estimate of the determinants of crop intensification showed a positive relationship existed between education, income, farm size, organic manure and bush burning and inverse relationship existed between household size and intensification among arable crop farmers. Furthermore, Coefficients of marital status, level of education, farm size, credit and land use intensity were the significant variables influencing the poverty status of the farmers. Analysis of Variance estimate revealed that crop intensification of the arable crop farmers is statistically significant. Ordinary Least Square used in estimating the effects of intensification and cropping systems on poverty status of the farmers revealed that there was a positive relationship between cropping system and poverty status in the area. The significant variables that influenced cropping systems, intensification, and poverty status of the farmers should be taken into consideration in policy issues. Also research efforts should be directed at obtaining improved planting materials/seeds and effective and efficient storage and processing technology to reduce/eliminate loss due to the high perishable nature of some arable crops. It also suggested that agricultural policy makers should make policies that will encourage the arable crop farmers to use formal insurance, cooperative societies and improved seeds/seedling that will consequently reduce poverty in the area.