Living Condition, Livelihood and Crop Diversification among Rural Farm Households in Remo Division of Ogun State Nigeria

Abstract

This study empirically assesses the livelihood and crop diversification of rural farm households in Remo Division of Ogun State Nigeria. The study drew a sample of 120 rural farm households through a multi-stage sampling technique and the primary data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive statistical measures, Simpson Index, and Tobit regression model. Results indicated that an average farm household head was 43.9 years old and had 3.6 years of schooling. In term of living conditions, averagely, roads in the communities were tarred but in poor state with households sourced drinking water from borehole. Most farming communities had no access to health services but had primary school as the main educational institution. Ninety six per cent of the farm households diversified their cropping activities with 43.3 percent diversified into three or more crops. The Tobit results revealed that there were marginal increases in crop diversification with increase in household size, farm size and educational level but crop diversification decreases as farmers grow older in age and farming experience. Implications were drawn for provision of functional social amenities and encouragement of farmers to join/form cooperative societies for easy access to loans that promotes crop diversification.