Arable farmer's enterpreneurial competencies and poverty status in Boluwaduro local government area of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Poverty affects all sectors of society and believed to be higher in rural areas. However, entrepreneurial competencies have proved to be a weapon to reduce poverty among the populace. This study sought to investigate the effects of entrepreneurial competencies on household poverty in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaire using a multi-stage sampling procedure to randomly select 120 household heads from the study area. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as FGT poverty index, budgetary analysis and probit regression were used for data analysis. The results showed that the mean age of the farmers was 50.94 years and were majorly males with a mean farm size of 7.43 acres cultivated mainly by family labour. Total household expenditure per month was N49730.5. The result of the budgetary analysis reveals a BCR of 1.8. Entrepreneurial competencies level was found to be moderate in the study area and 31.7% of the farmers were poor. Probit analysis showed that the Pseudo R-squared is 0.434, commitment and social competencies were significant at 1% and 5% level indicating positive influences on poverty reduction. It was recommended that farmers in the study area should show high commitment to agri-entrepreneurship and government should initiate policies that would enhance commitment of people and social activities to further reduce poverty level.