This study investigated the incidence and severity of poverty among small-scale farmers in five local
government area of Ogbomoso ADP Zone, Oyo State. Systematic random sampling was used to select the small
scale farming households and structured questionnaire was administered on selected sample of one hundred and
fifty (150) respondents. Head count ratio, Poverty gap index. Sen Index, frequency counts was used to analyze
the data.
The study revealed that most small-scale farmers in the area were male, mature and responsible but
with large household size and no formal education, their income level is also quite low. About 28% of small –
scale farmers were extremely poor, 20% were moderately poor and 52% are non- poor. It was revealed that
severity of poverty was seriously felt in Ogbomoso North and South than in Orire LGA and the poverty gap was
considerably large at Oriire LGA. The probability of being poor is reduced by increase in educational level,
farming experience, number of farm enterprise, farm size and income level of the farmers. But the probability of
being poor is increased by increase in household size. Farmers should be encouraged to diversify into many
enterprises and also increase their farm size in order to increase their income