Impact of non-farm livelihood diversification on food security and nutrition: evidence from North-Eastern Nigeria

In Nigeria, rural development policies geared towards reduction in food insecurity focus predominantly on the agricultural sector to the utter neglect of promising opportunities in the non-farm sector. In this wise, there arise the need to analyse the impact of non-farm livelihood diversification on the food security of smallholder farmers in Adamawa state, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained through a household survey with the aid of a semi structured questionnaire. A multistage sampling technique was utilised to select 400 households. Descriptive statistics, OLS Regression, and Propensity Score Matching Technique were used for data analysis. The results showed that, on average, households consumed around four food categories. Average Treatment Effects on the Treated (ATT) showed that engagement in the non-farm sector increases the mean annual income of farm households in the study area by ₦200,000. As well, the ATT indicated that non-farm employment increases household dietary diversity by three food groups. Further, non-farm income exerts a significant influence on household nutritional status. Engagement in non-farm activities raises household income, improves dietary diversity and nutritional status of the households. Food security policies should include interventions designed to generate additional incomes and, engender ample levels of effective demand for high-quality diets.