COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION AND NON-IRRIGATION FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION AND NON-IRRIGATION FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract:

In recent times, the global focus has been on eradicating food insecurity by various international organizations and governments of developing nations. In consonance of the above, this study examined issues of food security among smallholder irrigation and non-irrigation farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study utilized a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques to obtain a sample of 260 farm households to include 112 irrigation farmers and 148 non-irrigation farmers adjacent the selected irrigators. Descriptive analysis was carried out to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the households. Econometric tools were used to determine factors affecting the food security status of households. Using the recommended calorie required approach; the study revealed that 57% and 43% of the irrigation households were food secured and food insecured respectively, while 42% and 58% of the non-irrigation households were food secure and food insecure respectively. The Shortfall/Surplus index for irrigation households showed that the food secure households exceeded the recommended calorie intake by 60%, while the food insecure households fell short of the recommended calorie intake by 26%. Shortfall/Surplus index for non-irrigation households showed that the food secure households exceeded the recommended calorie intake by 64%, while the food insecure households fell short of the recommended calorie intake by 29%. A logit regression model made up of seven regressors was specified. education, cooperative, per capita income, technology adoption and access to market were found to determine the food security status of irrigation farming households in the study area while age, education, per capita income and farm size were found to have significant effect on the food security status of non-irrigation farmers. Irrigation has obvious advantages in that it increases farmer‟s yields, promotes diversified farming, enhances household food security and increases household incomes. Farmers who are on irrigation schemes are more food secured than non-irrigation farmers. . It is concluded that the design of food security strategies should include irrigation programmes and be multi-dimensional such that would focus on and address the identified constraints. With concerted support from government, and all stakeholders to improve irrigation facilities, food security can be enhanced at the household levels

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION AND NON-IRRIGATION FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA