Analysis of Multidimensional Poverty Status of Farming Households in Southern Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Aim/background: Poverty is a multifaceted phenomenon that includes lack of basic necessities and limited access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative’s (OPHI) framework conceptualizes poverty as multidimensional deprivation across health, education, and living standards, offering a holistic basis for analysis. This study seeks to determine multidimensional poverty levels, dimensional shares, determinants, and coping strategies among farming households in southern Nasarawa State. Method: The study was conducted in the Southern Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, covering five Local Government Areas. A multi-stage sampling technique selected 290 farming households from nine rural communities. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), based on the Alkire–Foster approach, was computed using ten indicators across education, health, and standard of living. Logistic regression was used to estimate determinants of poverty, while descriptive statistics summarized coping strategies. Secondary data from the National Bureau of Statistics and United Nations Development Programme were also used for context. Results: 63.3% of sampled households experienced multidimensional poverty, with an average deprivation intensity of 43.3% and an overall MPI of 0.274. The standard of living dimension contributed 84.9% to overall poverty, health 7.7%, and education 7.4%. Significant determinants of multidimensional poverty included lower educational attainment, lack of association membership, limited access to credit, and insecurity. Coping strategies included income diversification (86%), narrowing expenditures to basic needs (79%), enrolling children in low-cost schools (77%), farm diversification (76%), forming self-help groups (60%), borrowing (55%), skill acquisition (53%), and others. Conclusion: Multidimensional poverty among farming households in southern Nasarawa State is widespread and mainly driven by deficiencies in living standards. Addressing infrastructure, educational access, financial inclusion, and security is essential for effective poverty reduction. Policy interventions should prioritize these areas to break the cycle of poverty and improve rural livelihoods.