American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 16 (7): 1347-1357, 2016 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2016 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2016.16.7.12959 Corresponding Author: Ubokudom E. Okon, Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria. Tel: +2348030757061; +2348028286019. 1347 An Assessment of Income Generating Activities among Urban Farm Households in South-south Nigeria Ubokudom E. Okon, Anselm A. Enete and Eugene C. Okorji 1 2 2 Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria 1 Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 2 Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing income generating activities among urban farm households in South-South Nigeria. From a sample of 289 urban farm households, the results showed that majority (66%) of the respondents were male, with mean age of 44 years. Non-agricultural wage income (36%) and crop production income (26%) were major income generating activities. About 39%, 22%, 21%, and 32% of the respondents owned refrigerators, tricycles, cars, and other equipment, respectively. The ordinary least square results indicated that variables such as land size and asset value positively and significantly (p < 0.01) influenced livestock production income. Household size had negative and significant (p < 0.05) influence on crop production income. Also, older farmers fail to generate income in any of the category. Policies aimed at boosting households’ asset and encouraging urban households to participate in farming and other non-farm activities will reduce poverty and food insecurity problems. Key words: Assets Farm households Income Urban poverty Urbanization Nigeria INTRODUCTION of poverty in the world, where more than one in four Globally, more people live in urban areas than in rural [4]. areas. In 2007, the global urban population exceeded Sub-Saharan Africa is urbanizing faster than any global rural population for the first time in history, and other continent. The urban population growth rate was thereafter the world population has remained 4.15 % per annum in 2014. According to estimates by UN- predominantly urban [1]. In 2014, 54 % of the world’s Habitat, 200 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were population was urban. These global changes in the last living in slums in 2010, or 61.7 per cent of the region’s two decades have resulted in deepening social urban population, the highest rate in the world [1]. In differentiation and increasing poverty [2]. In particular addition, every year, 10 million more people are added to the structural adjustment programmes imposed by the urban population of sub-Saharan Africa. This has international organizations and donors which focused on increased the number of urban dwellers in extreme reducing government spending by privatization and civil poverty. service reforms (staff cuts and retrenchments), limiting In Nigeria, for instance the urban population is subsidies, increasing food prices, etc [2,3], have led to expected to grow by 212 million between 2014 and 2050 increase in number of urban poor. [1]. This rapid urbanization has implications in the areas Urban poverty and food insecurity are fast becoming of social, economic, environmental protection and the major problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the supply of adequate shelter, food, water and sanitation [5]. Millennium Development Goal 1, set internationally for Some analysis has shown that urban poverty is not only reduction of 50 % between 1990 and 2015 the proportion growing but has tended to be underestimated in the past. of hungry people and whose income is less than US $ 1.25 According to Food and Agricultural Organization, a day. Sub-Saharan Africa still has the highest prevalence poverty and food insecurity have been considered for people remain undernourished; the goal has not been met