FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF THE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The world economy is not growing as expected because of conflict and instability causing migration of large population from place to place. Also climate change impacts on agricultural productivity, food production and natural resources has shifted the food ways to a new food security, nutrition and health challenges. Food insecurity and poverty are significant problems facing the majority of Nigeria as the economy is mainly dependent on agriculture which is susceptible to different shocks, seasonality and trends. This study examined the determinants of the food security status of the farming household in Enugu State, Nigeria and specifically the study  i) identified the socio-economic status of farm households; ii) ascertained the food security status of farm households;  iii) examined the determinants of food security;  and iii)  identified the coping strategies adopted. The study used multistage sampling technique to select 160 respondents for the study and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food insecurity experience scale and ordered logistic regression. The result shows that greater proportion of the farming households were male (55.0%) and were within the age of 20-39 years. Majority of the respondents (67.6%) attained secondary education and 95% were married. The food security status result shows that majority of the respondents (83.8%) were food insecure while only 6.3% had low food insecurity level. The significant variables that influenced the food security status include age, education level and farm size.  The study recommends targeted interventions to enhance food security level which includes training for farmers in order to manage their farm resources properly.