FACTORS INFLUENCING LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN EJIGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study identified farming households' livelihood activities and reasons for their multiplication, determined the underlining factors for livelihood diversification, and examined the militating constraints faced. The study was conducted in the poverty-ladened Ejigbo Local Government of Iwo zone, Osun State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed for sampling households for data collection. A total of 130 households were selected for data collection from the household heads. Collected were subjected to descriptive analysis and logit regression analysis. The results showed that the mean farm size per household was 1.2 +/- 0.6 hectares just as the mean annual income was estimated to be N105,394 +/- 26,546. The off-farm livelihood activities identified include trading (28.4%) and carpentry (27.2%), among others. The foremost reasons for off-farm diversification were limited agricultural income (75.2%), large family (63.3%), and poverty (60.6%). Indicated as influencing the household likelihood of off-farm livelihood diversification are household size (b=0.33), farming experience (0.049), and income (b=1.01). More so, households' livelihoods were constrained mainly by the unfavorable market price of a commodity (68.8%), inadequate credit access (64%) as well as insecurity (62%). It was concluded that trading and artisanal activities represented major off-farm livelihoods and their likelihood of exploration is chiefly underpinned by the household size, income, and farming experience. Rural markets development is recommended for capacitating the households to substantiate their farm and off-farm livelihoods.