Factors Influencing Food Security Situation among Farming Household Heads in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to determine the household food security status and factors affecting the food security status in Niger  State, Nigeria. A sample size of 140 farming household heads were drawn from four local government areas among the three agricultural  zones in the state. The study used food security index to determine the household status and binary regression analysis to  determine the factors affecting household food security in Niger State, Nigeria. Result from the food security index indicated that 59% of  the household in Niger State, Nigeria were food secured, while 41% were food insecured. Out of the twelve variables used, eight variables were found to be significant factors influencing food security status in Niger, Nigeria, including household monthly income, household  family size, household heads’ level of education, monthly expenditure, household head age, household livestock ownership, farm size  and extension service agent contract. The research suggested that, government should intervene in empowering farming households,  extension service agents need to improve on methods use in teaching and creating awareness among farming households with recent  and improve methods of farming. Household heads should try and curtail the number of household size through family planning.