This study contributes to the existing literature on energy poverty and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study is conducted on a panel of 36 SSA countries over the period 2000 to 2020. Using several estimation methods, such as fixed effects, Driscoll-Kraay, Lewbel 2SLS, and the generalized method of moments, we find positive results for energy on food security. In SSA, the energy development index, access to electricity, and access to clean energy for cooking positively influence food security. This can encourage policy makers to prioritize investments in off-grid energy for vulnerable households through small-scale energy systems, which can promote food security by directly affecting local food production, preservation, and preparation, and contribute to human well-being and environmental conservation.

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This article evaluates the food security of agricultural producers vulnerable to climate change in the Tokombéré council through the analysis of food consumption scores, dietary diversity score and the analysis of the index of adaptability for the food. The data were collected using a questionnaire administered to 160 farm households that were selected by the stratified random sampling technique. Analysis of the data collected reveals that 82.5% of households are headed by men and 17.5% by women with very low level of education (55% have not been to school and only 45% have a primary level) and have an age between 50 and 75 (70.6%). The average SCA is 37.06 (acceptable), so 36.88% of households have an acceptable SCA of which in food security and 56.88% have a SCA limit of which moderately food insecure and 6.25% have a SCA poor whose food insecurity is severe. The average SDAM is 3.58 (acceptable) with a minimum SDAM of 2 and a maximum SDAM of 9. With SDAM; 90% and 79.12% of households are severely food insecure and moderately food insecure respectively. SDAM analyzes also show 75.6%, 20% and 4.4% of households with the lowest, average and highest dietary diversity respectively. The average CSI is 21.1 with a CSI min of 11 and a CSI max of 30.

Smallholder agriculture is characterized by underemployment during off seasons, low-income earnings and severe post-harvest losses. This study aimed at examining the effects of cassava processing on rural households in the Littoral region of Cameroon; identifying the different processing techniques, the different products derived from transformation, analysing the profitability of the products derived identifying key factors that hinder the downstream development of the cassava sector; and. Data were collected using questionnaires administered to a sample of 140 respondents who were selected through the multistage random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and budgetary analyses were used to analyse the data. The results from the analysis revealed that, women represent 82.86% of the number of processors and their average age is 44 years. The average household size is 7, while the education level is low; 48.57% had received only primary education and 38.57% were secondary school dropout. Their initial capital came from their personal savings. The following methods of cassava processing amongst others were found in the study area: grating, drying, draining, fermentation, grilling, sieving, extraction, and soaking. Results from the budgetary analysis revealed that, each of the different by-products ′waterfufu′, ′starch′, ′miondo′, ′bobolo′, ′fufu dry′ and ′garri′ generate profit. For ′Bobolo′ the value added is 98 FCFA, ′Miondo′ 95FCFA, starch 90Fcfa, ′waterfufu′ 70Fcfa, ′garri′ 65FCFA and 60 CFA francs for dry ′fufu′. The most profitable product was found to be ′bobolo′, followed by ′miondo′. Based on the various cost/benefit ratios, it is evident that all these products are profitable because the ratios are greater than unity. It was revealed that the cassava sector does not go without difficulties; inadequate equipment, and inadequate training of processors were the main difficulties encountered. The cassava should be industrialized by installing many machines in rural areas and to invest more in training the processors.

This paper describes the socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder adopters and non-adopters of improved maize seeds; compares the physical productivity (yield) level of improved maize seed adopters' and non-adopters'; determines the differences in cost, revenue and gross margin between smallholder adopters and non-adopters of improved maize seeds in Fako division. To achieve these objectives, data were collected from 150 adopters and 150 non-adopters of improved maize seeds and analyzed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results of the study show that maize production is dominated by educated married women (76.67%) with average age of 48 years for adopters and 51 years for non-adopters of improved maize seeds in Fako Division. Results also show that the average family size is 4 persons who rely on agricultural production as their main source of income and have been farming for an average of 17 years for adopters and 21 years for non-adopters of improved maize seed although without any training in maize production. The result of physical productivity (yield) revealed the existence of productivity gap between adopters and nonadopters with a significant (P < 0.001) positive difference of 297.7kg, in favour of adopters. In the same light, a difference in gross margin of 44,329.28 FCFA (Franc de la Communauté Financière l'Afrique) was recorded in favour of adopters of improved maize seeds. Therefore, improved maize seed can be considered as one of the empowerment tools with the potential of boosting farm productivity, increasing farmers' income, increase food security and welfare of farmers in the long run.