INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON MONTHLY FOOD EXPENDITURE PATTERN AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the influence of socio-economic factors on food expenditure patterns among households in Nasarawa State of Nigeria. In order to achieve this, 180 respondents were randomly selected from three Senatorial zones of Nasarawa State. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression model. The results of the descriptive statistics revealed heterogeneity in consumption and expenditure patterns across households. The result revealed that 87.8% are male and 85% of them are married and 15.0% are single. The minimum monthly income of household heads was N27,000.00 and the maximum was N500,000.00. The mean monthly income was N100,361.93 and the mean monthly expenditure was N43,785.00. The logistic results revealed that sex, age, and highest educational level, sources of income and number of wage earners have no statistical significant influence while cooperative membership had negative effect on expenditure at p<0.01. The results revealed that there is statistically significant influence of monthly income, household size and cooperative membership on total food expenditure among households at probability level of p<0.001, p<0.01 and p<0.01 respectively. The study identified challenges to food consumption to include  high prices of food (97.2%),  inadequate income (87.8%),  poor food utilization/wastage (54.4%)  and large household size (31.1%). It was concluded that most of the households spent more than their monthly income on food. It was recommended that people and traditional stakeholders in the State should intensify efforts in maintaining peace and tranquility, and develop spirit of tolerance among them in other to boost food crop production. This will reduce herders/farmers crises.