Determinants of Food Security Status among Farming Households in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This Study examined the determinants of food security status among farming households in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa lbom State, Nigeria. This was done to make available data for policy formulation, programme planning and informed decision making. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 150 respondents for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean, food security index and Probit Regression. Results show that mean age of the respondents was 53.62. Also, 60.00% were married, while 61.33% of the households were headed by males. Average household size was 6, while only 14.47% of the respondents had no formal education. Most respondents had farming as their primary livelihood activity, with N27, 500.00 as mean monthly income. Only 28.00% of the respondents were members of co-operative societies and 76.67% had no access to credit. Many households (58.67%) were food secure. Household size, age and educational status of the household heads were significant factors affecting food security status of the households in the area. Major constraints to attainment of food security in the area were high food prices, poor access to credit and low non-farm income, with ranks of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. It is therefore recommended that government should subsidize food materials to reduce cost and enhance accessibility by the households. Also, development agencies, non-governmental organizations and individuals should embark on enlightenment campaign to encourage a reduction in household sizes among the farmers. The farmers should be informed of the need to join cooperative societies in order to have access to loan facilities. Policies should be aimed at ensuring that institutional credit sources reduce the current high interest rates on loans and the procedural difficulties in securing loans, so as to encourage farmers to access such credit facilities for increased agricultural production hence, food security.