Determinants of Poverty Status of Fish Vendor Households in Lower Cross River Basin, Nigeria

This study was carried out to analyse the poverty status of dry fish vendor households in Lower Cross River Basin, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; estimate the mean expenditure on basic consumption items of fish vendor households, determine the influence of socio-economic characteristics of the respondents on their poverty status and estimate the determinants of poverty amongst fish vendor households. Primary data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Logistic regression). The monthly mean per adult equivalent household expenditure of the households was $29.78 (N 4,764.48) out of which poverty line of $ 9.93 (N1, 588.16) was estimated. Results of FGT decomposition revealed that poverty incidence for the study area is 0.569. The head count index was calculated at 56.9% while poverty gap was 48.0%. Logistic regression result showed that except for age, and marital status, all other explanatory variables were found to be significant predictors of poverty among dry fish vendors in lower Cross River Basin. The variables include; ownership of assets (p<0.002), years of fish vending experience (p<0.020), educational status (p<0.037), household size (p<0.064) and major occupation (p<0.053). Educational status and ownership of assets reduces the probability of being poor, while larger households, longer periods in fish vending (experience) and fish vending as a major occupation were associated with a higher chance of being poor. Policy interventions that target these predictor variables are necessary to reduce poverty among dry fish vendors in lower Cross River Basin. Keywords: Poverty status, Fish vendor, Lower Cross River Basin