Nsikak-Abasi A. Etim

Factors determining urban poverty of farming households in a tropical region.

The study identified and estimated the factors that determine urban poverty using the Tobit regression model. The study was conducted in Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta Region, Nigeria between February 2012 and July 2012. With the aid of questionnaire, primary data were obtained from 120 farming households using multi-stage sampling procedure. The participatory research involved 80 males and 40 females. Data were subjected to Tobit regression analysis. Results of Tobit regression showed that whereas sex of household head, farm size, ownership of assets, farm income, access to extension services and modern farming input, were inversely related to poverty depth; depending ratio, years of farming experience and marital status were directly related to poverty. Result further revealed that farm size, ownership of certain assets, access to modern farming inputs and farm income were negative but significant (P<.01). Dependency ratio and household heads farming experience were positively related to poverty depth and significant (P<.05) whereas access to extension services and sex of household heads were negatively related to poverty level and significant (P<.05). Expanding the size of cultivable lands, raising incomes from farming activities, and increasing the size of residential apartments could decrease the probability of being poor. Reducing the number of dependent household members and ensuring ready availability and accessibility of basic amenities like water supply and health care facilities to urban households are some measures that could curb Original Research Article American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 4(3): 322-335, 2014 323 the likelihood of poverty in the region.

Adoption of inorganic fertilizer by urban crop farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

This study was conducted between November, 2013 and April, 2014 in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to empirically identify factors affecting the rate of adoption of chemical fertilizer by urban crop farmers. Through the multistage sampling procedure, 60 urban crop farmers were selected and interviewed with the aid of questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Tobit regression analysis. Results showed that the rate of chemical fertilizer adoption was positively and significantly related to land size, age, credit and education at (P<0.01) and (P<0.10) respectively, whereas average walking time to farm and soil fertility status were negatively and significantly related to fertilizer adoption and use intensity. This is an indication of the relevance of land, education and credit as determinants of technology adoption. It implies that the rate of adoption of fertilizer technology is strongly linked to these factors. Findings underscore the need to embark on market oriented interventions which will encourage urban farmers to adopt improved farming techniques as suitable policy decision. Enhancing human capital and availability of credit at lower cost are policy options that should be vigorously pursued.

Factors Influencing Severe Poverty of Subsistence Farming Families of Coastal Communities in Southern Nigeria

This study was conducted in coastal communities of southern Nigeria to identify the factors influencing severe poverty of farming families. Through the multi -stage sampling, 80 farming families involving 60 ma les and 20 females were selected and were subsequently interviewed using a questionnaire. Primary data were analyzed using Tobit regression model. Results of analysis revealed that while plot size, migrant remittance, farm income, education, access to modern farming resources related inversely to depth of poverty; years of experience in farming and family size were positively related to poverty. Poverty levels were lower among unmarried family heads and female headed families. Results further revealed that plot size, income from farming, access to modern farmin g resources and rooms per family memberwere negatively significant (P<.05) in relation to poverty. Conversely, marital status of family head and average walking time to nearest water source were positively significant (P<.05) in relation to poverty. The level of educational attainment and migrant remittance were significant (P<.10) and negatively related to poverty whereas family size and average walking time to nearest health facility were very significantly (P<.01) positively related to poverty. Findings further reveal that poverty was lower for families that received migrant earnings either in form of cash or goods to support the families. The results suggest the relevance of migrant remittances in

Efficiency of Resource Utilization in Dry Season Waterleaf Talinum triangulare Jacq. Wild Production by Women in Southern Nigeria

The study estimated the efficiency of resource use by women in dry season waterleaf production. The study was conducted in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State during the short dry season between No