The study was conducted in Ohafia and Umuahia Agricultural Zones of Abia State, Nigeria. Multi – stage random sampling
technique was used to select 360 respondents (180 non – farm and 180 farm respondents). Primary data used for the study
were generated through structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) methods. Data realized were analyzed
using descriptive statistics and Z- test analysis. The results showed that the non – farm respondents had a mean age of 43
years as against 44.17 years for the farm respondent, while 70 % and 36.1 % of non – farm respondents and farm
respondents respectively had age range between 18 – 29 years. Also, 55.6 % of the non – farm respondents and 52.7 % of
farm respondents, were males, while 77.8 % (non – farm respondents) and 83.3 % (farm respondents) were married.
Furthermore, 77.8 % non – farm respondents as against 75 % of the farm respondents were literate and 11.1 % of the non –
farm respondents had mean farm size of 1.4 hectares as against 27.8 % farm respondents who cultivated on between mean
farm size of 3 – 4 hectares. The results also, showed that the mean household size was 5.5 persons for the non – farm
respondents as against 7 persons for the farm respondents. The study, showed that the rural dwellers were engaged in non –
farm activities such as road transportation (91.6 %), trading (86.3 %), food processing (83.3 %) and technician and artisan
(56.6 %) respectively. On the other hand, the farm activities identified were mixed farming (94.4 %), poultry (91.7 %), crop
production (83.3 %), piggery (75 %), and fisheries (69.4 %) respectively as non – farm and farm activities in the study area.
The result of the Z – test difference on annual income from the activities showed that there was a significant difference
between the two activities (Zcal. = 13.60 *** and Ztab. = 2.58***). Also, the study showed that the people engaged in
farming as a way of life and not necessarily as a major source of sustenance and livelihood. It is recommended that the
farmers should be supported and empowered through enhanced extension education and low interest rate loans in order to
make farming a business since it is their primary occupation.