Abstract:
Irrigation has been suggested to be a central key part in curbing food scarcity and alleviating
poverty not only in Nigeria but also in many other developing countries. The continued dependence
on rainfall in agriculture has proved incapable of sustaining the population increase. The study
was conducted to assess the role of Kampe irrigation dam on farm household’s income-poverty
status in Kogi State, Nigeria. A two stage sampling technique was utilized for the study. Samples
were drawn from irrigation beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries within the project community. A
total of 140 respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Also, the study used
the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) model which was used to examine the incidence, gap and
severity of poverty among the sampled respondents. Logit regression model was used to identify
the factors contributing to poverty state in the study area. The poverty incidence was 41 % and
57 % for irrigation beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries respectively. Poverty gap i.e aggregate
expenditure shortfall was 6 % and 21 % for irrigation beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries
respectively. However, poverty severity was much higher among irrigation beneficiaries (28%)
and 23 % for irrigation non-beneficiaries. Farm household size, total annual farm income and
total input cost all contributed to the poverty situation in the study area. Conclusion, the study
agree that irrigation dam project would contribute to reducing income-poverty of irrigation farm
households, from the result, the study also, based on the key research findings, this study provides
recommendations on policy and interventions for making irrigated agriculture effective tool for
poverty reduction program
