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Abstract
The study was designed to investigate the income distribution
among rice-based farming households in Okigwe Agricultural
Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 120 rice-based farmers
was selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were
collected with a well structured questionnaire administered to
120 randomly selected rice farmers. Data collected were
analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
Gini-coefficient model was also employed. The socio-economic
characteristic of the farmers revealed that majority of the
farmers were educated. Besides, majority of them also had
appreciable experience in rice farming which makes them
better rice farmers. It was revealed that income share percentage
of the richest households was 17.65% followed by the second
richest group with income share percentage of 13.27%. Those
in the twelfth decile represented the poorest group with a
cumulative share percentage 2.82%. The Gini-coefficient of
distribution of 0.32 showed that incomes were not highly
concentrated but varied around the low per capita of N1442,859
per household. It becomes imperative therefore to enhance
farmers’ income through a sustainable improved technology in
rice farming.