Food Insecurity Determinants among Rural Farm Households in Nigeria

Abstract

 Abstract— This paper investigated food insecurity determinants among rural household in Nigeria using farm-level data collected on 220 rural farm households from Benue State. Data were analysed using Tobit regression model. The study revealed that a unit increase in the number of household members working (-0.9726451) generated the highest fall in household food insecurity among the respondents. Furthermore, the study showed that a unit increase in the number of household members in school (0.8081805) generated the highest rise in household food insecurity among the respondents. Larger family size had higher probability to be food insecure. Policy should be directed towards encouraging and creating non-farm jobs for rural households as this would help to reduce food insecurity among the respondents. Policy should also be directed towards measures leading to the release of the educational-financing burden from farm households as this would also help to improve food security among the respondents.