Analysis of Engagement Outcomes of Female Headed Households from Off And On-Farm Livelihood Activities in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed choice of livelihood activities among female-headed households in rural communities of Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the outcomes emerging from these livelihood activities and determined the poverty status of the respondents in the study area. Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to select one hundred and sixty (160) respondents. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Probit regression). The result shows that 23.12 % of the respondents were extremely poor, with poverty lines of N14, 820.00, 27.50% were moderately poor, with poverty lines of N33, 210.00 and 49.38%(non-poor) with poverty lines of N69, 765.74. Probit regression analysis result showed that coefficients of reduction in poverty (0.26118**), increased income (0.1402***), improved social status (0.2501**) and diversification (0.3299**) has effect on desired off – farm livelihood outcomes, as against increased food availability (0.6421**), household employment (0.4224***), diversification (0.0488**) and sustainable resources (0.5028**) that had effect on desired on – farm livelihood outcomes engaged by respondents in the study area. Policies aimed at access to credit and women empowerment programmes, diversification were advocated for desired outcomes from engaging in these livelihood activities by female headed households