Food Insecurity Status among Smallholder Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed food insecurity among smallholder farmers in Niger State, Nigeria, using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 317 respondents for the study. Results showed that anxiety and uncertainty about food supply (87.4%), insufficient food quality (88.6%), and insufficient food intake and its physical consequences (73.2%) were widely experienced domains of food insecurity. Access‑related prevalence revealed that only 32.0% of households were food secure, while 11.0% were mildly, 12.4% moderately, and 44.6% severely food insecure. The regression model indicated that being male‑headed (β = −1.388), more educated (β = −0.689), and more experienced in farming (β = −0. 088) reduced the likelihood of being food secure, whereas being married (β = 2.322), owning land (β = 2.476), and having a higher income (β = 0.348) increased food security. The study concludes that food insecurity is both widespread and severe among smallholder farmers in Niger State The findings underscore the need for targeted extension and social protection interventions that address gender‑specific vulnerabilities, strengthen access to land and income, and support less‑resilient households in Niger State.