DETERMINANTS OF FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF SESAME FARMING HOUSEHOLD IN BAUCHI STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the food security status of sesame (Sesamun indicum, L.) farming households in Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 340 sesame farmers from the three agricultural zone of Bauchi State. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of data. The results revealed that the mean age of sesame farming households was 46 years which implies that they were within their active age and therefore labour supply to their farms was not a problem. Average household size of 9 persons was recorded, indicating relatively large person per household that means there are more mouth to feed in each household. Except all or majority of household members are active, dependency ratio will be high. The results also showed that there was food insecurity in the study area, with 60.6% of the sesame farming households being food insecure. The variables income and household size were significant at P˂0.01 with income having positive coefficient while household size had negative coefficient. Farm size, price of major staple food, current level of food consumption and continuous accessibility were significant at P˂0.05, Farm size, current level of food consumption and continuous accessibility had positive coefficients but price had negative coefficient. From the result of the study, household income, household size, farm size, price of food, level of food consumption in terms of number of meals per day and continuous accessibility were the determinant of food security status in the study area. Based on the findings the study recommend, among other things, ways to improve the income of farm household via agricultural based poverty alleviation programmes and farmers should be advised to produce food first before any form of cash crop.