ELEMENTS OF RURAL OFF-FARM ECONOMY: EFFECTS OF OFF-FARM INCOME ON PRODUCTIVITY AND POVERTY STATUS OF RURAL MAIZE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

This study evaluated elements of rural off-farm economy: effects of off-farm income on productivity and poverty status of rural maize farming households in Kaduna State, Nigeria. This research study was designed specifically to achieve the following objectives: determine the socio-economic characteristics of rural maize farmers, determine the poverty status of rural maize farmers, determine the elasticity of production and return to scale of rural maize production, examine the effect of off-farm income on productivity of rural maize farmers, examine the effect of off-farm income on food security of rural maize farmers, and determine the constraints facing rural maize farming households. The econometric and statistical tools used to achieve stated objectives were; descriptive statistics, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty model, elasticity of production, return to scale, Probit model analysis, and Stochastic