DETERMINANTS OF POVERTY IN AGRO-PASTORAL HOUSEHOLDS OF LOWER SHABELLE, SOMALIA

Poverty is a complex, interlocked, and multidimensional phenomenon. The notion of poverty is used to refer to a wide-ranging set of interrelated life chances valued differently in the world's diverse cultures. The lack of awareness and inadequate understanding of the agro-pastoral way of life among policymakers has led to the exclusion of their particular issues from policy development. The study employs both primary and secondary data. A total of one hundred and sixty (160) randomly selected household heads were interviewed in person through a semi-structured questionnaire. The data collected is analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and percentage. On the other hand, t and chi-square tests compared poor and non-poor sample groups to the explanatory variable. Besides, a logit regression model is also employed to identify the determinants of poverty in Lower Shabelle. Moreover, the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index is used to examine the extent and severity of rural poverty. The binary logit model estimation has also identified that a total of six variables, out of the eleven variables entered into the model, are found to be statistically significant. These variables include family size, livestock ownership, farm size, dependency ratio, nonfarm income, gender, and age. The study shows a severe problem with poverty in Lower Shabelle. Therefore, to mitigate this problem and improve the well-being of rural households in the study area, some of the actions to be taken should include limiting family size and creating alternative livelihood opportunities other than just agriculture. Keywords: determinants of poverty, agro-pastoralism, household poverty, Somalia, Lower Shabell