IN POST SUBSIDY ECONOMY IN WUKARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analysed the determinants of food security status among smallholder farmers in the post-subsidy economy of Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to collect primary data from 114 household heads using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, food security index, Likert scale, and binary logit model. Results showed that 84% of respondents were male with a mean age of 43 years and an average household size of six. About 98.2% had formal education and an average farming experience of eight years, while 78.9% were married and 68.4% engaged primarily in crop farming. Furthermore, 80.7% lacked access to credit, 61.4% did not belong to any farmers’ association, and only 43% were food secure. Factors such as age and gender were significant at 1%, while marital status and cooperative    membership were significant at 10%. Major constraints identified included allowing children to eat first, rationing, and borrowing money. The study concluded that smallholder farmers in the area remain largely food insecure and recommended that government food security policies consider household socio-economic characteristics to reduce food insecurity effectively.