Attaining food security is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the various efforts made by governments, food insecurity continues to be a major developmental problem across the globe. Research shows that food production in Nigeria is increasing at a rate of less than 2.0% while the population growth rate is estimated to be increasing at 2.5% per annum. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess rural households’ food insecurity in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, Per-capita Food Consumption Expenditure, Probit Regression Analysis, Likert Rating Scale, and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were used to achieve the objectives. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 240 respondents used for the study. Results show that the respondents were in their active working age with an average age of about 46 years and marital status, educational qualification, primary occupation, access to credit, and age were significant drivers of food insecurity in the study area. Also, 68.33% of the respondents were food insecure while only 31.67% of the respondents were food secure. Seven out of ten generated perception statements developed were rated ‘agreed’ while the remaining three statements were rated disagreed. The results of HFIAS show that 31.7% of the respondents were least food insecure and 48.2% were moderately food insecure while the remaining 20.1% were most food insecure. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the research work that governmental and non-governmental organizations should make credit facilities available to the people in the study area in other to augment income inconsistency and policy measures that will enhance increase scale of production should be encouraged.

Consumers' preference for local rice determines its demand. Therefore, the study was carried out to analyze consumers' preference for local rice among households in Ekiti State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for this study. A total of 240 women were randomly selected from three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State. Primary data were obtained with the use of a well-structured interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistic like logistic regression. The mean age of the respondents was 38 years and more than half (53.3%) of the respondents were females. Most (70.0%) of the respondents had a mean family size of 7 persons. Most (87.0%) preferred local rice and factors influencing consumers' preference for local rice include good nutritional value, quality of rice and good taste. Local rice was very much preferred by the respondents. Logistic regression shows that significant influence exists between price, taste, availability of rice and presence of particles and preferred choice of rice. Therefore, efforts should be made by the government to formulate price control policy on local rice for its affordability by the consumers and there should be improvement on processing technology of local rice to eliminate presence of particles for improved quality and good taste to enhance the consumers' preference for choice of rice. Also, the government should support farmers through provision of incentives and credit facilities so as to produce more local rice for its availability all year round.

The study assessed the determinants of the use of Ethno-Veterinary Management (EVM) practices among sheep and goats farmers in southwest, Nigeria. A validated interview schedule was used to source information from one hundred and twenty farmers for the study. Data were collected on selected farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, various EVM practices and constraints encountered on the use of various EVM practices. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage, means, standard deviation and ranking were employed to summarize the data. Binomial logit regression analysis was employed to assess the determinants of the use of EVM practices among sheep and goats farmers. The study revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 32.7 years with 58.3% males. Also, 91.7% were able to read and write and the mean household size was 4 while 40% received information on EVM practices. The common diseases and pests of sheep and goats in the study area were foot rot, mastitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, trypanosomiasis, ticks, fleas and mites. Common EVM practices employed by the farmers were: the use of spent engine oil, kerosene, oil extracts of palm oil vernonia conferta leaves etc. Age and sex had negative relationships with the use of EVM practices at 5% level of significance while educational level, household size, farming experience, sources of information on EVM practices had positive significant relationships with the use of EVM practices. Insufficient fund was the major constraint hindering the rearing of sheep and goats in the study area. It was concluded that small ruminants’ farmers did manage their stocks employing some EVM practices and sensitize farmers on the efficacy of some EVM practices. Government should encourage veterinary practices which will integrate western medicines and EVM practices together for the use of small ruminants’ farmers.

Aims: The study examined the farming households’ food demand in Nigeria by, identifying the socio-economic characteristics of the farming households, assessing the monthly expenditure share of various categories of food in the total households’ food budget, analyzing the expenditure elasticities of the food classes and examining the factors influencing food demand. Methodology: A questionnaire was used as research instrument to elicit primary data from 120 farming households randomly selected through a multi-stage sampling method. The data analyses were done through the use of descriptive statistics and Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model. Results: The results show that 61.7 percent of the household heads were men while the mean age was 45.7 years. Most (92.5%) of the household heads were educated with mean household size of 7 persons and mean monthly income of N19, 435.20. The analysis of average monthly expenditure share of various food classes demanded for by the households reveals that roots and tubers food class had the largest (48%) share of households’ total food expenditure while flesh foods and dairy products came last with just 2 percent. In addition, expenditure elasticities of the six classes of food considered indicate that  demand for roots and tubers, starchy food, fruits and vegetables and fats and oil food classes were inelastic while that of Flesh foods and dairy products and protein grains were elastic. Also it was revealed that farm households with small household sizes consume more proteinous foods. The determinants that had the expected sign and cut across all food classes were the price of individual food category and household income. Conclusion: The study analysed the farming households’ food demand and its determinants and in order to improve the farm households’ demand for food, it is recommended that policies to prevent upward or downward swings in the prices of foods in the economy should be put in place.

Over the years, the domestic supply of rice has wielded great influence on the food security and self-sufficiency status of Nigerian households, making it one of the principal staple crops in the country. Against this backdrop, this study examines the yield response of rice to climate and non-climate variables in Nigeria. The study was conducted from data extracted from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) database from 1970 to 2017. The data was augmented with rainfall data from National Meteorological Center (NIMET). The Johansen Error Correction Model in a cointegration framework was employed to test the responsiveness of supply to the factors considered. The study revealed that rice yield in Nigeria is non-responsive to real price, exchange rate and climate variables. However, fertilizer consumption significantly influences rice yield in Nigeria.