Does crop diversification impact farm households` perceived current and future food insecurity? A case of smallholder farmers in Uganda

Crop diversification is one the strategies that farmers in rural Uganda have employed to improve their food production and consumption. However, it remains unclear whether farmers’ risk behaviour affects the decision to diversify crops and their perceived food security (current and future). This study assesses the influence of risk aversion on crop diversification and evaluates its influence on farmers’ ability to meet current and future needs. Data were collected from two districts in Uganda. The results of an ordered probit model showed that risk aversion positively and significantly influenced the level of crop diversification. On the contrary, membership in associations and age were negatively associated with crop diversification. Logit analysis results revealed that the level of diversification had no influence on farmers’ ability to meet their food needs. However, the type of crops grown influenced their perception of their ability to meet their food needs.