EFFECT OF INSECURITY ON FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF FARMERS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study attempts to determine examined the effect of insecurity on food security status of farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 82 farmers for the study. Data were collected using interview schedules and structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit regression model. The result showed that the mean age of the respondents was 46.28 years. Only 25.6% of the respondents had formal education with average farm size, household size and farming experience of 1.65 ha.  10 persons and 29.67 years, respectively. Findings revealed that 52.44% of the respondents were food insured as result of wide range of insecurity activities. The commonness types of insecurity activities in area were blocking of local routes, killing, kidnapping, chasing of farmers out of farms, harvesting of farm produce and halting of market activities. Regression analysis result revealed that frequency of attack, number of people killed, number of kidnapped people and hectare of farms destroyed had significant negative effect on food security status of the farmers. Thus, it was concluded that insurgency had negative outcome on food abundance of farmers. To assuage the situation, it was recommended that communities should form viable and active vigilante groups for surveillance to complement government efforts in curbing insecurity. It was also suggested that new improved and high yielding crop varieties and farm inputs should be provide to farmers as palliatives by National Emergency Management Agency and Niger State Emergency Management Agency to cushion the negative effect of insecurity and improved food security of farmers and nation at large.