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\hypersetup{pdftitle={An Assessment of the Effect of Microcredit on Household Food Poverty Status in Iwo Area of Osun State Nigeria},pdfauthor={Adetunji Kehinde, Jacob Akintola, Olabisi Awoniyi, Feyikemi Aderinwale},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Food poverty, food security, microcredit},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\begin{center}
\Large{\textbf{An Assessment of the Effect of Microcredit on Household Food Poverty Status in Iwo Area of Osun State Nigeria\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Adetunji Kehinde, Bowen University, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Bowen University Road, 23402~Iwo, Nigeria, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{tjgreenk@yahoo.com}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Adetunji Kehinde, Jacob Akintola, Olabisi Awoniyi, Feyikemi Aderinwale}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{Bowen University, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Nigeria}}}
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\index[author]{Kehinde, Adetunji}
\index[author]{Akintola, Jacob}
\index[author]{Awoniyi, Olabisi}
\index[author]{Aderinwale, Feyikemi}
\begin{center}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Microcredit represents a major lifeline in rural Nigeria to help combat the ravaging effect of poverty especially among the food producing class found in rural Nigeria. This resource has been plagued with issues such as obstructed access, wrong application, poor managerial capacity of users and untimely release by service providers. More often than not, microcredit fails to address its major objective of improving the social and economic wellbeing of users. In view of this, the study investigated the effect of the use of micro"=credit on food poverty alleviation among households in Iwo local Government (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria. A cross"=sectional survey of 90 respondents was used to identify 43 participants of a microcredit scheme and 47 non"=participants. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive analysis, FGT food poverty index and probit regression analysis. The results revealed that \mbox{51.2\,\%} of users and \mbox{38.8\,\%} of non"=users of microcredit were within the age group of 41--50 years, \mbox{67.5\,\%} and \mbox{70.3\,\%} households of both users and non"=users of microcredit had household sizes of between 6--10 members, respectively. Users of micro"=credit have higher literacy level and a higher percentage of food expenditure to total expenditure ratio compared with non users. The FGT food poverty index showed that \mbox{29.8\,\%} of non"=users were poor compared with \mbox{18.6\,\%} of microcredit users. Users require \mbox{3.3\,\%} increase in their food expenditure to move out of food poverty against \mbox{6.6\,\%} by non"=users of microcredit. Furthermore, a higher level of non"=food poverty (severity index of 0.0182) was estimated among non"=users of credit compared with users (severity index of 0.0098). The probit regression showed that the food poverty status of households was influenced by family size and economic status of the head of household. Surprisingly, microcredit did not show a positive significant effect on household food poverty status. It is recommended that rather than monetary credit intervention, it should be packaged as improved seed variety, agrochemicals, mechanisation services and capacity building opportunities for respondents. Also credit should be timely and effectively applied in rural enterprises, for better productivity, as well as improved social and economic wellbeing of rural household.



}

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\end{abstract}
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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Food poverty, food security, microcredit
\index[key]{Food!poverty}
\index[key]{Food!security}
\index[key]{Microcredit}
\end{document}