LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY AS A TOOL FOR POVERTY ALLEVATION

Abstract

Poverty is an endemic disease that has inflicted a large segment of the world, particularly the developing countries in south Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, the situation is not better. The situation is a paradox - "Poverty in the Midst of Plenty". The definition and measurement of poverty are fraught with political and subjective judgement. Different assumptions and methodologies in determining poverty lines, sources of income considered, and the value given to social programs and indicators has led to differences in poverty measures in most countries including Nigeria. However, the identification of the basic features of the poor appears less contentious. The poor generally suffer from malnutrition and high incidence of diseases that lead to short life expectancies and high infant mortality rates. A prominent group of the poor consists of small marginal farmers with very low productivity. In Sub-Saharan Africa, they farm on low quality soils with poor methods and inputs in spite of relative land surplus. Their conditions are exacerbated, most often, by inappropriate policies, weak institutions and inadequate skill (Muhammad, 1998). Poverty, therefore, is defined as the absence of means to maintain and enjoy basic needs of life. This situation leads to deprivation and lack of access to food, social services and productive assets as well as makes it difficult for an individual to participate in the decisions that affect his/her life (Okunmadewa 1998, 1999) generally, the magnitude and dimensions of poverty in a country depend on two related factors. First is the average level of income; second, is the degree of inequality in the distribution of that income. The more unequal the distribution of a given level of income per capita, the greater the incidence of poverty. On the other hand, for a given distribution, the lower the average income level, the greater the incidence of poverty. A logical concomitance of the trend is the probable emergence of new groups of absolute poor and persistence of absolute poverty. Absolute poverty is defined as inability to satisfy the basic physical needs of life: food; clothing and shelter to ensure continued survival.