MULTI-DIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX ANALYSIS OF MILLET FARMERS IN SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN KATSINA STATE

Abstract

The study analysed the multi-dimensional poverty status of millet farmers in Batagarawa, Daura and Mani Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Katsina State, Nigeria. Poverty status of millet farming households in Katsina State is high inspite of the fact that the state is suitable for millet production. Primary data was collected from 206 millet farmers selected using a multistage sampling using structured questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and multi-dimensional poverty index. The results of the descriptive statistics showed that 98.54% of millet farmers were male with majority (67.48%) between 43 and 60 years of age who were married (83.01%).The result of the analysis of the millet farmers’  multi-dimensional poverty status revealed a high poverty incidence of 98.06%, the intensity of poverty was approximately 58.8% and the overall MPI value is 57.66%,implying that 57.66% of the farmers are living in poverty and are deprived across 98.06% of MPI indicators reflecting a dual challenge of  widespread  and deeply  entrenched poverty among the millet farmers in Katsina State. The study recommends that there is need for increase collaboration between the local and state government to educate millet farmers, increase social investment like provision of basic rural clinics to each rural millet producing village, establishment of an agricultural financial institution as well as provision of improved millet seedling, fertilizers  and farming machines to farmers so increase youth participation, increase output of the farmers’  and consequently improve their multi-dimensional poverty status.