Effect of Income Level on Poverty Status of Vegetables Seed Farmers in Selected Local Government Areas in Rivers State Nigeria

Ifeanyi-Amos. Ekwueme.; Mefo; Udoadigo Nkiruka

doi:10.56201/ijaes.vol.12.no6.2026.pg132.147

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Effect of Income Level on Poverty Status of Vegetables Seed Farmers in Selected Local Government Areas in Rivers State Nigeria

Ifeanyi-Amos. Ekwueme., Mefo, Udoadigo Nkiruka

Abstract

This study examined the effect of income level on the poverty status of vegetable seed farmers in selected Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of vegetable farmers, estimated their income levels and poverty status and assessed the effect of access to improved vegetable seeds on poverty status and income. Primary data were collected from 180 vegetable farmers using a structured questionnaire administered through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, and percentages, while inferential analyses were carried out using logit, and ordinary least squares regression models. The results revealed that the majority (70%) of the respondents were aged 45 years and below, with a mean age of 37 years. Female farmers constituted 80% of the sample, while 50% were married. The average household size was six persons, and most respondents (55%) had secondary education with an average of 14 years of schooling. The mean farming experience was 8 years, while the average farm size was 0.55 hectares. Findings further showed that a large proportion of the farmers had low income levels and limited access to improved vegetable seeds, with 70% reporting no access to improved seed varieties. Poverty analysis indicated that farmers with higher income levels were less likely to be poor compared to those with lower income levels. The logit results showed that education, access to credit, farm size, household size, income level, and access to improved vegetable seeds significantly influenced the poverty status of vegetable farmers. Furthermore, the ordinary least squares regression results revealed that access to improved vegetable seeds had a positive and significant effect on farmers’ income, alongside factors such as education, household size, farming experience, credit access, and farm size. The study concluded that income level plays a significant role in determining the poverty status of vegetable farmers and that access to improved vegetable seeds contributes substantially to income enhancement and poverty reduction. The study recommends strengthening extension services, improving seed distribution systems, and enhancing farmers’ access to credit facilities to increase the adoption of improved vegetable seeds, boost farm income, and reduce poverty among vegetable farming households in Rivers State.

Keywords

income levelvegetables seedpoverty status.

References

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Effect of Income Level on Poverty Status of Vegetables Seed Farmers in Selected Local Government Areas in Rivers State Nigeria

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Keywords

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