Family Income and Cash Flow of Rural Households in South East Nigeria: A Comparative and Gender – Based Analysis

Abstract

This study focused on the income generating capacity of farm family's own resources and examined the vulnerability to financial risk among the remote and peri-urban farming systems of Imo state. Primary data was collected using the farming and rural systems approach to randomly select and interview 120 households. Descriptive statistics and Mann whitney test were used in assessing between group differences while regression analysis was used to test the determinants of family income spread within the households. The results showed that the farming systems differed significantly in terms of rewards to resource use and efficiency. It also showed that remotely located households were more likely to be vulnerable to financial risks. A comparison of Male and Female Headed Households showed that the households had similar income generating potentials but with the cash flow analysis a safe conclusion may be reached that Female Headed Household were more financially unhealthy.