Poverty status differentials of non-governmental organisations activities' beneficiary and non-beneficiary farm households in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the effect of NGOs on alleviating poverty among rural farming households. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting one hundred and fifty (150) NGO members and non-members respondent farmers in Ogun State from whom primary data were collected by means of a well structured questionnaire. The data collected include household size, age of the household head, income and NGO activities. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index and student-t test. Results revealed that household heads of both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries’ farm families were predominantly males (90.6% and 73.9% respectively). The mean age of beneficiary and non-beneficiaries groups was 48 and 49 years respectively. More than 70% of both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries farm household heads had access to formal education in one form or the other. About 23.4% of beneficiaries fell below the poverty line while 46.4% of non-beneficiaries fell below the line. Furthermore, poverty incidence was more prevalent among the non-beneficiaries’ (0.464) than the beneficiaries (0.234) while poverty was found to be severe among non-beneficiaries (40%) than beneficiaries (8%). A significant difference existed between the poverty conditions of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries (p<0.01) farm households. Hence, it can be inferred that NGOs through their operations have improved the economic situation of their beneficiaries. Therefore, agriculture affiliated NGOs need to scale up their intervention programmes