Analysis of food security status among farming households in Jere Local Government of Borno state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analyzed food security status among farming households in Jere local government area (LGA) of Borno state in north-eastern Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 households selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, he ad count method, food security gap and squared food security gap. The result of analysis indicated that 45% of the respondents fell within the active age bracket of 40 – 49 years, more than half (52%) had only primary/Quranic education with a high proportion (57%) engaged in farming as a primary occupation. The family size of 40% of the respondents was between 7–9 persons, with estimated annual income of the majority (87%) less than or equal to N 135, 000 ($100) per annum. The incidence of food insecurity was high among the age bracket of 40-49 years (27.5%) but the depth and severity was higher (0.24 and 0.41 respectively) among the age group of 50 years and above. Also, households with large family size, low income level and low level of education were mostly affected by food insecurity condition. Eating once a day, allowing children to eat first and buying food on credit were among the coping strategies adopted by the respondents. Based on the result, the study recommended that: farmers be provided with informal education through extension service, improve nutritional awareness in the study area, non-farm income earning opportunities for the households and improved access to extension be generated.