ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of soil management practices on the poverty status of smallholder farmers in Enugu State. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 180 smallholder farmers. Specifically, the study identified the types of soil management practices among small holder farmers; estimated the use level of soil management practices by smallholder farmers; estimated the determinants of soil management practice use levels among the smallholder farmers; estimated the indices of high and low users of soil management practices and compared the poverty status of the two groups; analyzed the determinants of  SMP and other factors on the poverty status of the smallholder farmers and identified the constraints to the use of soil management practices by the farmers. Data collected from the farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistics, tobit, logit, FGT model and z-test. Result showed that the mean age of the farmers was 45 years implying that the farmers were still in their active age, majority of the farmers (65%) were male while about 66% of them were married. The mean household size was 8 persons whereas, 94% of the farmers were literate. The result of the distribution of the smallholder farmers based on types of soil management practices showed that all the farmers in the area had adequate knowledge of organic manure and multiple cropping. It also showed that the mean use level of soil management practices was 47%. Gender, education, farm income, extension contact, farm size, cost of land improvement practices and farming experience were significant factors affecting the use levels of soil management practices in Enugu State at 1%, 1%, 10%, 1%, 1%, 10% and 1%, respectively. The result of the classification of use levels of soil management practices of the smallholder farmers showed that majority of the smallholder farmers (59%) had low use level of soil management practice compared to about 40% who had high use level of soil management practice. The result of poverty status showed the mean per capita consumption among the farm households was ₦560.30 ($ 1.47) while the poverty line was ₦373.55 per person, per day. Result also showed that there was a significant difference between poverty status of the soil management practices among high and low use levels of smallholder farmers. On the other hand, age, education, access to credit, household size, net farm income, and soil management practices were the determinants of poverty status at 1%, 1%, 10%, 1%, 5% and 1% alpha levels, respectively. Insufficient funds, land tenure system, inadequate extension services, natural hazard, high interest rate and high cost of some of the practices were the constraints to the use of soil management practices in the study area. The study recommended appropriate policy measures should be targeted at increasing the educational levels of the rural farmers and also provide extension support services for increased crop production and poverty alleviation. Also, appropriate government policies should be directed towards encouraging the rural farmers to embrace the use of improved soil management techniques/practices for increased output and poverty reduction.