FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Coping strategies, food security, Kaduna State, socioeconomic attributes
The study established the relationship between socio-economic attributes and food insecurity coping strategies adopted by crop farmers. Specifically, the study described socioeconomic characteristics of the household; establish the food security status of farming households in the study area; describe food insecurity coping strategies adopted by the farmers and determine the link between socioeconomic attributes and food insecurity coping strategies adopted by the farmers. A multistage sampling technique was employed in selecting 240 crop farmers from the 4 ADP Operational Zones of the state. Questionnaire was used to elicit data from farmers. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, food security model and multinomial logit model. The study showed that about 80% of the farmers had formal education. About 61% of the farmers were food secure, while 39% were not. Limiting size of food consumed, changing crop varieties, engagement in non-farm activities, were among the food insecurity coping strategies of farmers. Age of farmers, years of education, extension visits and years spent in cooperatives had significant relationship with food insecurity coping strategies. It was therefore recommended that the number of ADP extension staff should be increased so that extension staff visit to farmers could be at least three times a year, in order to provide effective extension visits to farmers so as to give advice on different ways to cope with food insecurity in the state. Government should provide incentives to farmers such as price ceilings and price floors and also buy surpluses from farmers, this will motivate farmers to produce more than enough that will take care food insecurity in the State.
Akinyele I 2009. Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in Retrieved from: http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/nsspbp07.pdf Babatunde, R. O., Omotosho, O. A. and Sholotan, O.S. (2007). Factors Influencing Food Security Status of Rural Farming Households in North Central Nigeria. Agricultural Journal, 2(3): 351 – 357. CEEPA (Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa) 2006. How farmers perceive and adapt to climate change in Africa, Pretoria (Policy Note10); online:http://www.ceepa.co.za/docs/policy%20note%2010.pdf (accessed 27th June, 2013). Datt GK, Simler S, Mukherjee & Dava G 2000. Determinants of Poverty in Mozambique 1996-97 (FCND Discussion Paper. No.78). International Food Policy Research Institute: Washington, DC. FAO 2005. Measuring Food Insecurity. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5898e/y5898e06.htm FAO 2011. Nigeria General Information. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=NGA Helen HJ 2002. Food Insecurity and the Food Stamp Programme. Amer. J. Agric. Econ., 84(5): 1215-1218. IFPRI 2011. Transforming African Economics – Factsheet on Nigeria. Int. Food Policy Research Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/transforming-africaneconomies-factsheet-nigeria Kuwornu, J. K. M., Mensah-Bonsu, A., Ibrahim, H. (2011). Analysis of Foodstuff Price Volatility in Ghana: Implications for Food Security. Eur. J. Bus. & Mgt., 3(4): 100-118. Laah JG 2003. The Demographic and Socio-Economic Effects of HIV/AIDS in Kaduna State. A PhD Dissertation, Submitted to Post Graduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Okoruwa VO, Ojo OA, Akintola MC, Ologhobo AD & Ewete FK 2009. Post-harvest grain management techniques and pesticides use by farmers in South West Nigeria. J. Economics & Rural Devt., 8(1): 53 – 72) Okuneye P 2001. Rising Cost of Food Prices and Food Insecurity in Nigeria and Its Implication for Poverty Reduction. Economic and Financial Review. Retrieved from: http://www.cenbank.org/out/publications/Efr/rd/2002/efrvol39-4-6.pdf Reichwage M 2010. Food Security among Households in Northern Nigeria: Descriptive Analysis, M. Sc. Thesis in the Global Health Department, Faculty of the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Ithaca College, p. 106. Salama A, Kamara AB & Brixiova Z 2010. Smallholder Agriculture in East Africa: Trends, Constraints and Opportunities, Working Papers Series No 105, African Development Bank, Tunis, Tunisia. Shetty P 2003. Keynote paper: Measures of Nutritional Status from Anthropometric Survey Data. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y4249E/y4249e0b.htm Ugwu D & Kanu I 2011. Effects of agricultural reforms on the agricultural sector in Nigeria. J. Afri. Studies & Devt. World Food Summit 1996. Rome Declaration of World Food Security. Food & Agriculture Organization of United Nations. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w3613e/w3613e00.htm Yusuf O, Olukosi JO & Ugbabe OO 2007. Resource use efficiency in ‘Egusi’ Melon (Citrulluslanatus ThunbMansf) production under sole and mixed cropping systems in Okehi local government area of Kogi State, Nigeria. An Int. J. Agric. Produc. & Res., 3(3): 1 -9.
