Socio-economic Characteristics Affecting Food Security among Rural People in Yola-North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Donye A. O.

 

Full Length Research Paper  I Published July,2018

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 4 (5), pp.98-105

 

ABSTRACT

 

The study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents affecting food security in Yola-North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; identify the food security status of the respondents; determine the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics and food security status of the respondent; and, identify the problems causing food insecurity in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was employed in sampling the wards, villages and respondents involved in the study. A total of 105 respondents were considered for the study. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages and means) and Logit regression is the inferential statistic employed. The major findings show that 59% of the respondents were males and 41% were females. The mean age of the respondents is 42.3 years, implying that most of the respondents were in their agriculturally productive age bracket. Majority (72%) of the respondents have attained at least the postsecondary school level of education. The respondents have an annual mean income of 218,000 naira, which is considered as a low income. The mean farm size is 1.4 hectares and the mean farming experience was 6.7 years. More than half (55%) of the respondents are food secure. Results of the Logit regression analysis show that: level of education (X₅), income (X₆) and household size (X₈) were found to have positive and significant relationships with food security at 5% level of significance, whereas farming experience (X₇) has a positive and significant relationship at 10% level of significance. However, age (X₁), sex (X₂), marital status (X₃) and farm size (X₄) were found to have no significant relationships with food security. It was concluded that the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents have significant effects on food security status of the respondents and their socio-economic characteristics have played important roles in ensuring that their food are secure or insecure as the case applies. The respondents depend mainly on crop production and more than half of them are food secure. It was recommended, among others, that government should provide loans to small-scale farmers without any collaterals or with feasible collateral requirements. Insurance cover should be made mandatory for farmers to alleviate their sufferings and assist them in the event of total crop loss.

Key Words: Socio-economic Characteristics affecting Food Security, Rural People, Nigeria.

 

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