Determinants of Food Security among Rural Livestock Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which livestock production has contributed to food security of the rural households in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Fifty percent of the states in Southwestern Nigeria and 30% of rural households in the selected local government areas were randomly selected resulting in a sample size of 306 respondents. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), food insecurity scale was used to assess the food insecurity of the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while binomial regression was used to determine the determinants of food security at p = 0.05. Most respondents (76.1%) were males and married (83.7%), while about half (46.0%) of them completed secondary education. Mean age, household size and monthly income from livestock enterprises were 48.8 ± 12.8 years, 6.6 ± 3.2 and N45,068 ± 97,077, respectively. A large proportion (71.9%) practiced extensive system of livestock production. Sources of information (β = 5.304), income (β = 7.453) and constraints to livestock enterprises (β = 2.807) increased the odds of their food security. Policies that encouraged that promote diversification of income sources should be promoted to increase entrepreneurs' income in order to improve food security situation of rural households.

Household food insecurity in Panamanian subsistence farming communities is associated with indicators of household wealth and constraints on food production

“…The importance of animal-source foods, in this case chickens, supports general understanding that keeping livestock is very relevant for attaining food security (17,46) . Our results confirmed the well-established association of food security with economic status, as measured by income (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) or by variables that are more relevant in subsistence agriculture settings removed from commercial markets, including the HWI (10,18,19,47) and sale of crops (11)(12)(13)(14) . However, we uncovered intriguing differences in relevant economic variables through the agricultural cycle.…”

“…In addition to home production of food, income has also been shown to be positively associated with food security in rural, farming households (10) , often resulting from the sale of livestock and/or vegetables produced by the household (11)(12)(13)(14) . This is particularly true during lean seasons (1) .…”

Household determinants of food security in rural Central Uganda

“…The results also contradict those by Bashir et al (2012) where both large and small livestock assets significantly improve food security (Bashir et al, 2012). It also contradicts findings of Beyene and Muche (2010), Muhoyi et al (2014) and Owolade et al (2013). The above findings give an impression that food security can be improved with increased livestock holdings.…”