Determinants of food insecurity among smallholder farmers in North Central Nigeria: policy implications

This study investigates the determinants of food insecurity among smallholder farmers in North Central Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 812 respondents for the study. The study employed the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to measure food security status. An ordered probit regression model was used to analyze the relationship between food security status and key socioeconomic and agricultural factors. The results revealed that the sex of the household head, marital status, level of education, farm size, and years of farming experience significantly influenced food security status. Male-headed, married, more educated, experienced farmers with larger landholdings were more likely to be food secure. In contrast, variables such as household size, land ownership, and income were not statistically significant. Households experienced high levels of food insecurity, such as uncertainty about their food supply, concerns about poor food quality, and experiences of insufficient food intake. The findings underscore the need for policies promoting equitable access to education, land, and extension services, especially for women and young farmers, which are critical to improving household food security in the region.