ANALYSIS OF LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES AMONG GINGER (ZINGIBER officinale rosc) FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study focused on analysis of livelihood diversification strategies among ginger farming households in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire administered to 205 ginger farming households in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression count model (Negative binomial variant of the Poisson regression model). The results of the socio-economic characteristics of the ginger farming households showed the mean age of the farmers of 39 years and average years of farming experience of 16 years. The average household size of the ginger farming households was 7 persons per household. The result also showed that ginger farming households engaged in many livelihood activities with livestock keeping the most dominant livelihood activities with an average income of ₦69,744 and milk sale the least with an average income of ₦22,667. Results of the factors influencing the choice of livelihood diversification strategies showed that age, education status, farming experience, access to credit where negative and statistically significant at different levels of significant while household size was positive and significant at P≤ 0.01.