Empirical Analysis of Poverty Status of Small Scale Cassava Processors in Nigeri

The study examined the determinants of poverty status among small scale cassava processors in South – West, Nigeria using three States (Ogun, Oyo and Ondo). Data were obtained from primary source using a set of structured questionnaire assisted with interview schedule. The multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select 373 respondents for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Foster – Greer Thorbecke (FGT) and probit regression model. Results showed that poverty incidence (Po), poverty depth (P1) and Poverty severity (P2) were 57.1, 16.1 and 5.9 percent respectively, indicating that an average poor small scale cassava processor needed 16.1 percent of the poverty line to get out of poverty. The probit regression model results indicated that gender, cassava processing experience, educational level, age and secondary occupation of the small scale cassava processors with total labour used were the major determinants of poverty in the study area. Government should establish affordable processing centres in order to reduce processing cost and as well stabilize price of cassava products so as to generate more income vis-a-vis alleviate poverty.