SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECT OF COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME ON POVERTY STATUS AMONG FISHING HOUSEHOLDS IN THE RIVERINE AREAS OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The article examined the socio-economic effect of community-based natural resources management programme on poverty status among fishing households in the riverine areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected from the respondents and analysed using a combination of descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measure, and probit regression model. Results of the descriptive statistics revealed that majority of the fish farmers are females and are in their economically active age, with an average household size of 6 and 7 for participants and non-participants respectively. FGT results showed that 35% of the participants and 47% of the non-participants respectively fell below the poverty line. Participants needed 10% of the poverty line to get out of poverty while the non-participants needed 15% of the poverty line to get out of poverty. The results of probit regression model revealed that household size, years of education, share of farm income, access to credit and participation in the community-based natural resources programme are the determinants of poverty among the respondents. The study recommended that Government should encourage the non-participants to participate in the community-based natural resource management programme and also introduce policies that facilitate increased level of education, increased access to credit facilities are essential to help reducing poverty among fishing households in the study area.