[01] Toyosi Christianah Abiodun, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. [02] Adewale Isaac Olutumise, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria. [03] Sylvester Oluwadare Ojo, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Department of Economics, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

The study empirically examined the livelihood strategies and livelihood diversity of rural households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were employed for this study and the data were collected from 120 rural household heads using well-structured questionnaire based on the specific objectives of the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, Simpson index and multinomial logit regression. The result revealed that 80.8% of the respondents were male and 82.5% were married. Majority (83%) of the respondents had at least primary school education. The primary occupation was farming and 73.3% of the respondents were seen to combine both farm and non-farm strategies. Other observed non-farm income sources were carpentry, welding, trading, tailoring, hunting, lumbering, civil service among others. Results of the Simpson livelihood diversification index showed a risk neutral value of 0.64 with about 73.3% having more than one income source. The multinomial logit analysis showed that age, household size, level of education and farm size were the main factors that significantly influenced respondents’ choice of livelihood strategy. Inadequate asset/capital, infrastructural problem, lack of access to natural resources, awareness and training and cultural problems were identified as constraints to livelihood diversification efforts of household heads. Conclusively, rural livelihood is moderately diversified with households have more than one income sources. Also, diverse income sources provide a suiting relief to rural households as it builds up their total income.

Livelihood Strategy, Diversity, Households, Multinomial Logit, Simpson Index, Nigeria

[01] Mensah, K. (2014). Assessing the livelihood opportunities of rural poor households: Case study of Asutifi District. Thesis in Master of Science in Development Policy and Planning. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/. [02] Chambers, R., and Conway, G. R., (1992). Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Practical Concepts for the 21st Century. IDS Discussion Paper 296. Brighton: Institute for Development Studies. [03] Niehoff, B. P, Moorman, R. H, Blakely, G. and Fuller, J. (2001). The influence of empowerment and job enrichment on employee loyalty in a downsizing environment. Group organ Manage, 26 (1), pp. 91-114. [04] Alinovi L., Marco D’Errico, Erdgin M., and Donato R. (2010). Livelihoods Strategies and Household Resilience to Food Insecurity: An Empirical Analysis to Kenya. European report on development. Paper prepared for the Conference on “Promoting Resilience through Social Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa”, organised by the European Report of Development in Dakar, Senegal, 28-30 June. [05] Ellis, F. (1998). Household strategies and rural livelihood diversification. Journal of development studies, 35 (3), 481-496. [06] Hussein K. (2002). Livelihoods Approaches Compared: A multi-agency Review of Current Practice. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278405226. Accessed 28/12/18. [07] Valdivia C. and Quiroz R. (2001). Rural livelihood strategies, assets, and economic portfolios in coping with climatic perturbations: A case study of the Bolivian Andes. [08] Olawuyi S. O. and Rahji M. A. Y. (2012). Analysis of livelihood strategies of household heads in Ode-Omi kingdom, Ogun-Water side Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. IJRRAS11 (2). www.arprapress.com/volumes/Vol11Issue2/IJRRAS_11_2_19.pdfpp 337-345. [09] Ellis F (2000). The determinants of rural livelihood diversification in developing countries. Journal of Agricultural Economics. 51 (2): 289-302. [10] Warren P. (2002). Livelihoods diversification and enterprise development: An initial exploration of concepts and issues. Food and Agricultural Organisation FAO, Livelihood Support Programme Working Paper (LSPWP) 4, Livelihoods diversification and Enterprise Development Sub-programme. Available at https://www.semanticscholar.org. Accessed 11/04/2017. [11] Amurtiya, M. (2015). Effect of Livelihood Income Activities on Food Security Status of Rural Farming Households in Yola South Local Government Area. M.Sc Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. https://www. Researchgate. Net/Publication/285584404. [12] Omonona, B. T (2009). Knowledge review on poverty and rural development in Nigeria Strategy support program (NSSP) report no 3, Background paper. https:/www.ifpri.org/publication/knowledge-review-poverty-and-rural-development-nigeria. Accessed 23/11/2018. [13] Igbalajobi, O., Fatuase, A. I., Ajibefun, I. (2013). Determinants of Poverty Incidence among Rural Farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. American Journal of Rural Development, 2013, Vol. 1, No. 5, Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajrd/1/5/5 © Science and Education Publishing DOI: 10.12691/ajrd-1-5-5, pp 131-137. [14] Daramola, J., Adekunle, M., Olaniyi, M., Alayaki F., (2010). Diagnostic survey report of Ondo State agricultural production. Institute of Food security, environmental and agricultural research, University of agriculture, Abeokuta ©unaab-ifserar, 2010. ISBN: 978-978-50092-1-7. [15] National Population Commission (2006). Nigeria Census Statistical Bulletin in Report. Vol. 6, ISBN: 978-35734-8-9. [16] Ijigbade, J. O, Fatuase, A. I and Omisope, E. T (2014). Conduct and Profitability of Gari Production for Increased Food Security in Ondo State, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 19, Issue 7, Ver. VI (July. 2014), www.iosrjournals.org. e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. [17] Egbe, E. J (2014). Rural and Community Development in Nigeria: An Assessment. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (Nigerian Chapter) Vol. 2, No. 17. [18] Khatun, D. and Roy, B. C. (2012). Rural Livelihood Diversification in West Bengal: Determinants and Constraints. Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan 731 236, West Bengal. Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 25 (No. 1) January-June 2012 pp 115-124. [19] Lawson T. O (2010). Gender differentials in Nigeria: Implications for sustainable development. J. Extension. Syst. 21 (1): pp. 46-57. [20] Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2013). Household population and housing characteristics- The DHS program. https://dhsprogram.com>pubs>pdf. Accessed 25/12/18. [21] Aruwajoye, A. S. and. Ajibefun I. A (2013). Assessment of Livelihood Strategies among Households in Forest Reserve Communities in Ondo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific &Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue 7, July-2013. ISSN: 2229-5518 IJSER © 2013 http://www.ijser.org. pp 1650-1655. [22] Adepoju A. O. and Obayelu O. A. (2013). Livelihood diversification and welfare of rural households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics. ISSN 2006-9774 ©2013 Academic Journals http://www.academicjournals.org/JDAEVol. 5 (12), DOI 10.5897/JDAE2013.0497 pp. 482-489. [23] Oni, O. A and Fashogbon, A. E. (2012). Food poverty and livelihoods issues in rural Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 8 (2), 108-135.