Abstract

The research examines diversification as survival strategy to alleviate rural household poverty in Apa Local Government Area, Benue State. A total of 120 respondents were selected for interviewed through multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. The result shows significant relationship between some socio-economic characteristics and poverty alleviation strategy. There are: agricultural income (r=0.58, p<0.05); non-farm income (r=0.46, p<0.05); level of formal education (r=0.40, p<0.05) and sex/gender (r=0.35), p<0.05). Household size and age were though positive, but insignificant. In the ranking order, the provision for basic st nd rd needs was food, ranked 1 , education 2 and housing 3 . non-farm has become a household means of survival. Households continue to seek additional non-farm income to preserve a level of household income in the face of economic problems. Equal average earning between agricultural income and non-farm income in this study suggest that the rural non-farm sector could potentially offer a pathway out of rural poverty. It is recommended that promotion of rural non-farm activities be an ingredient in strategies aimed at developing viable rural economies.

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