Effect of Socio-Economic Characteristics on the Poverty Status of Rural People in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Poverty remains one of the most persistent development challenges confronting rural Nigeria, with Plateau State ranking among the states with the highest incidence of multidimensional poverty in the country. This study examined the effect of socio-economic characteristics on the poverty status of rural people in Plateau State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of rural household heads, determined their poverty status using the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty model, examined the effect of socio-economic characteristics on poverty status using a binary logistic regression model, and identified the coping and poverty-alleviation strategies adopted by rural households. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents from selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire/interview schedule. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the FGT poverty index, and a binary logistic regression model. Results showed that the poverty line was N7,384.13 per capita, and 63.67% of sampled households were classified as poor, with a poverty depth of 19.26% and poverty severity of 10.13%. Household size had a significant positive effect on the probability of being poor, while educational attainment, farm size, access to credit, and cooperative membership significantly reduced the probability of being poor; age, sex, marital status, occupation, and farming experience were not significant predictors. The study concludes that socio-economic characteristics significantly influence rural poverty status in Plateau State and recommends policy interventions targeted at human capital development, access to rural credit, agricultural support, and cooperative strengthening to reduce the incidence of rural poverty in the State.