POVERTY REDUCING EFFECTS OF PROCESSED BEEF MARKETERS: EVIDENCE FROM KADUNA, KANO AND KATSINA STATES OF NIGERIA

The objective of this study was to provide empirical information on the poverty reducing effects of processed marketers in Kaduna, Kano and Kastina States of Nigeria. The study made use of primary data, which were obtained through the use of a computer-aided personal interview (CAPI) software on tablets. Analysis of the data was done using Foster-Greer-Thorbecke's (FGT) Weighted poverty index and Tobit regression model. The results of the poverty profile of raw and processed beef cattle marketers in the study area showed that 40% and 38% of the raw and processed beef marketers respectively constituted the share of the population that cannot afford to buy a basic basket of goods (food and non-food) equivalent to the poverty line of N75, 600. The depth of poverty (poverty gap index) of poor raw beef marketers (0.10) was lower than that of the poor processed beef marketers (0.14). The degree of poverty among the poor raw beef marketers given by the estimated severity of poverty (0.04) was equally lower than that of the poor processed beef marketers (0.07). The results on poverty reducing effects of processed beef marketing activities on poverty revealed that raw beef and processed beef marketing activities significantly reduce poverty incidence by 1.7% and 3.3% for the beef cattle farmers and traders respectively. In the light of the decreasing unemployment, it is recommended that it is recommended that beef marketers should be supported with easy access to credit such as the collateral-free and interest-free loans under the MARKETMONI and TRADERMONI loan schemes of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).