Assessment of Agricultural Production Role on Poverty Alleviation in Wad Banda Locality, North Kordofan State - Sudan.

Abstract

Assessment of Agricultural Production Role on Poverty Alleviation in Wad Banda Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan. Mohammed Abdalla Teabin Ahmed Agriculture is the main livelihood activity in North Kordofan State (NKS). Animal production, tapping of Hahsab trees (Acacia Senegal) and traditional gold mining recently are other livelihood activities in the state. Traditional farming and raising livestock are the major problems facing the livelihood. This study aimed to investigate poverty situation and analyzing root causes of poverty in Wad Banda Locality, NKS. The study used both quantitative and qualitative data. A field survey was conducted in June 2013 using a questionnaire. Group discussions, interviews and observations were also used in data collection. Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke index (FGT index) was used for measuring poverty. Descriptive statistics, correlation, Lorenz curve, regression analysis and Gini coefficient were also used. Results of the study revealed that 94% of studied household heads were males while only 6% were females. Age of household heads ranged between 22- 75 years with an average of 43 years old. About 21% of household heads were illiterate, 9% received Khalwa education and 70% of household heads received formal education. Family size ranged from 2-16 persons with an average of 7 persons per household. Males represent 50.9 % of the studied households; while female represent 49.1 %. Expenditure on food represented 84 % of total household's expenditure, clothes represented 5% and expenditure on education and health represented 7% and 4%, respectively. The study showed that about 94% of the household heads considered farming as their main livelihood activity, 5% considered it as secondary livelihood activity, and only 1% did not depend on agriculture as livelihood. The i people in the area raise sheep, goats, cattle and camels. About 17% of studied household heads practiced animal raising for cash as a secondary activity, while 83% said animal raising was only for home consumption. About 43% of studied households experienced food shortages during the last year. Rain variability is a major cause of livelihood vulnerability. Other problems facing household income generation include agricultural pests and diseases, traditional farming methods, marketing problems, low human capabilities, lack of finance, and low level of social services. People in the area adopted a number of coping strategies to alleviate poverty such as selling assets, borrowing, casual work, traditional gold mining, hiring their children to livestock breeders, and migration to Libya. Results of the study showed that the incidence of income poverty between studied households was 100% regarding income from crop production only. The addition of livestock income reduced incidence of poverty from 100% to 94%. When total income was considered the incidence of poverty fell to 78%. Consumption expenditure was divided into two categories, consumption on food only, and total consumption which include food, education, clothes, and health. The incidence of food poverty was 74%. Regarding total consumption the incidence of poverty fell to 62%. The study recommended that provision of agricultural extension is highly needed to build capacities of rural people.