Agriculture and Poverty Reduction in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

This study examined the role of agriculture in reducing poverty in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the impact of agricultural productivity, education, access to credit, and infrastructure on household poverty levels. Primary data were collected from 150 randomly selected households using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that agricultural productivity has a significant negative effect on poverty, indicating that higher farm output reduces poverty levels. Education and access to credit were also found to significantly reduce poverty, while inadequate infrastructure was identified as a factor that limits poverty reduction efforts. The regression model explained 71% of the variation in household poverty, highlighting the combined influence of these factors. The study concludes that agriculture is a central driver of poverty reduction in Etche LGA, but its impact is maximized when complemented by education, financial inclusion, and rural infrastructure development. The study recommends promoting modern farming techniques, expanding educational and training opportunities for farmers, improving access to credit, and investing in rural infrastructure to achieve sustainable poverty alleviation.