Food insecurity,
hunger, malnutrition and undernourishment are on the rise in Nigeria and Ebonyi state in particular. This study analysed the
factors promoting food insecurity among rural farming households in Ebonyi state of Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique
was used to select three hundred rural farming households for the study.
Frequency and percentage distribution, likert
rating scale and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression model were
used to analyse data. Findings show that majority of the respondents 55.2%
had no formal education while 93.7% had no access to formal loan.Results also show that factors such as
poverty (mean = 3.7), poor crop yield (mean = 3.6), illiteracy (3.5), lack
of improved crop/livestock varieties (mean = 3.4), lack of governmental
support (mean = 3.3), high cost of farm input (mean = 3.2), pests/disease
attack (mean = 3.1) and socio-political crises (3.0) play critical role in
promoting food insecurity. Result of the multiple regression analysis
revealed that the coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 78.2%,
while the adjusted (R2) was 64.5%. Thus, it was recommended that government
should provide adequate security and farm incentives such as grants,
subsidized inputs, loan, improved crop/livestock varieties and modern farm
equipment for the rural farming households to enable then overcome food
insecurity in Ebonyi state in particular and
Nigeria at large.
Food is fundamental to human existence.
People are said to be foodsecured when the quality and
quantity of food is sufficient and available to them. It is a situation that exists when all
people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient,
safe and nutritious food (United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, 2020). Food security
is perceived at the global, international, national, state, household and
individual levels. A
country, state or household is food secure when the majority of the population
has access to food of adequate quality and quantity, consistent at all times. Okpolu et al., (2018) stated that food insecurity boils
down to inability of households to have reliable access to food in sufficient
quantity and quality to enjoy active and healthy life. Food availability and affordability
has declined dramatically in
many states in Nigeria including Ebonyi due to
insecurity. Thus,
absence of food in adequate quantities and qualities results to hunger and
undernourishment (Muhammad et al., 2023). Hunger is defined as a condition
synonymous with chronic undernourishment; where undernourishment itself is
defined as a state, lasting for at least one year, of the inability to acquire
enough food to meet dietary energy requirements (Food and Agricultural Organisation, 2019).
Otaeha (2013) observed that food insecurity exists
when people are undernourished as a result of the physical unavailability of
food, their lack of social or economic access to adequate food. Food insecure
people are those whose food intake falls below their minimum energy
requirements as well as those who exhibit physical symptoms caused by energy
and nutrient deficiencies resulting from an inadequate or unbalanced diet or
from the body’s inability to use food effectively because of infection or
disease (Ubokudom et al., 2021).Ebonyi
is one of the states in Nigeria richly blessed with abundant natural and human
resources that if properly harnessed can feed its people and export the
surpluses to other parts of the country and even beyond; but it is unfortunate
that the state is experiencing persistent food crisis at recent times both in
terms of quantity and quality (Esheya, 2019).
Ebonyi state has given considerable policy attention to food
security over the years but the desired outcome has not been achieved possibly due to inefficient
management of available resources and lack of continuity of policy
implementation. According to Akamere et al., (2018),
volatility in resources flows arise from the fact that the country depends
largely on oil for its revenue while the huge potentials in other natural
resources such as agriculture and solid minerals remain untapped. A recent
report indicates that 68% of Nigerians live below the international poverty
line of $1.25 per day. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger occupied a
priority position in Nigeria under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
which Ebonyi state was not an exemption. This laid a
solid policy foundation in the agricultural sector to address the challenges of
chronic hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition (Omogo et al., 2023).
Low
level of agricultural productivity often leads to scarcity of food, which in
turn results in hunger and starvation with adverse consequences on malnutrition
(Esheya, 2023). Bridging productivity gaps in the
country through interventions that enhance the production of crops rich in
micronutrients, bio-fortification, and agricultural intensification with
applications of improved inputs and crop varieties is apt to have positive
impact on food availability, dietary diversity, and micronutrient intake (IITA,
2018; Nurudeen et al., 2019). USAID (2011), proposes
several key steps to increasing agricultural productivity which is in turn key
to increasing rural income and reducing food insecurity. They include: boosting
agricultural science and technology; securing property rights and access to
finance; enhancing human capital through education and improved health; and
conflict prevention, resolution mechanisms, democracy and good governance based
on principles of accountability and transparency in public institutions and the
rule of law are basic to reducing vulnerable members of society. Since
inception of the present administration in Nigeria, hunger has appreciated in Ebonyi state where economies have slowed down due to
economic shocks, deprivation and worsening insecurity. According to FMARD
(2018), food production in Nigeria is increasing at less than 3% while
population growth rate is estimated to be well above 3% per annum. This low
level of food production when compared to the ever-increasing population growth
in the state suggests food insecurity, hunger and undernourishment (Esheya, 2022).
Although
many authors have worked on related literature; for instance, Omonona et al., (2007), analysed
food security situation among urban households in Lagos state of Nigeria. Orewa and Iyangbe (2009),
assessed the degree of food insecurity in rural and low-income urban population
of Nigeria. Abubakar and El-Rasheed (2020), conducted
an empirical study on the extent of hunger and food insecurity in Gombe State of Nigeria; while Nurudden
and Shaufique (2019) examined the determinants of
food security among households in Nigeria using food and non-food expenditures.
Okpolu et al., (2018) conducted research on the household food security among rural household
in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.They opined that inspite of some effort being
made by government and individuals, food insecurity still persists.
Therefore,
certain factors could be responsible for this persistent problem and such
factors need to be identified and appropriately addressed to terminate the
dreaded problem of food insecurity. Hence, hunger eradication should remain a
key commitment of decision-makers at all levels. Against this background, this
study becomes imperative to analyse the factors
promoting food insecurity among farming households in Ebonyi
state.
The specific objectives were to: describe the
socio-economic characteristics of the farming households; identify the factors promoting
food insecurity; and determine the effects of socio-economic variables on the food
security status of farming households in the study area.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study
area
This research was conducted in Ebonyi state of Nigeria.Ebonyi state is located in the South-east geopolitical zone
of Nigeria.Ebonyi
is composed ofthirteen local
government areas with an estimated population of 4,339,136 based on the 2005
census and the inhabitants are spread across 5,935 square kilometres
(National Population Commission, 2006). The State shares border with Benue
State to the North, Enugu State to the west, Imo and Abia
States to the south and Cross River State to the east. The tropical climate of
the state is broadly of two seasons which are the rainy season between April
and October and dry season between November and March. The temperature
throughout the year ranges between 21 °C to 29 °C and humidity is relatively
high. The annual rainfall varies from 1,150mm in the northern areas to 2,000mm
in the southern areas. The state enjoys luxuriant vegetation with high forest
zone (rain forest) in the south and sub-savannah forest in the northern fringe
(Ebonyi State Ministry of Information, 2011).The
state is predominantly dominated by the Igbos with other minority ethnic groups
from neighboring states. The people of the state are predominantly farmers and
traders. The main crops produced in the state are rice, cassava, yam, palm
produce, maize, groundnut, plantain, banana, fruits and vegetables (Esheya, 2021).
Sampling Method
A multi-stage sampling technique was used for
the study. Using Yamane (1967) method at a precision level of 5%, data were
collected from three hundred (300) randomly selected rural households from six
selected local government areas of Ebonyi State (Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ikwo, Ishielu, Afikpo North and Onicha
respectively) with the aid of structured questionnaire. Stage 1 involved the
selection of two Local Government Areas from each of the three Agricultural
zones in Ebonyi state. In stage 2, five communities
were selected from each local government based on susceptibility to security
threats. Stage 3 involved the selection of ten respondents from each community
from the list of registered farmers obtained from the local government areas.
This gave a sample of three hundred respondents (6 LGAs X 5 communities X 10
farmers = 300 respondents). However, only two hundred and eighty-eight (288)
completed copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and used for the study.
Analytical Techniques
Descriptive
and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze data. Frequency and
percentage distribution was used for objective (i) while
likert rating scale was used to realize objective
(ii). Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression model was utilized for analyzing
objective (iii).
Model Specification
According
to Gujarati and Porter (2009), the multiple regression
analysis model is stated as follows;
Implicit
function: Y = f (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5,
X6, X7, X8)
Table
1 showed that majority 75.7% of the respondents were males while 24.3% of them
were females. This reveals that farming households in the study are dominated
by male household heads. It also shows that most of the respondents 66.7% fell
within the age range of (21–40) years. This indicates that majority of them
were still vibrant, active and productive in farming. According to Basudeb et al., (2007), most rural farmers were agile and
physically disposed to pursue agricultural production and related activities. The
result further reveals that majority of the respondents 91.3% were married
while 55.2% had no formal education. This finding shows the need to assist the
farmers to improve on their level
of education to widen their knowledge and increase their flexibility in
adopting modern farming methods. Again, greater majority of the respondents
76.0% had household size of between (11-20) persons. Obviously, large household
size is an important factor in agricultural production for the supply of manual
farm labour (Omotesho et al.,
2010).
Also, 78.8% of the respondents had farming experience of 21 years
and above.Thus, given the necessary
support in terms of grants, inputs and subsidy, the respondents had adequate
years of farming experience that enable them engage in extensive farm
production so as to avert hunger and undernourishment in their respective farm
households. Results in Table 1 further reveals that majority of the farmers
produce at subsistence level as 67.2% of them maintain farm size of between (1
and 4) hectares. This shows that they are mainly small-scale farm households.
Small scale farming affects human capital, labour
requirement and land tenure arrangement, as it would not allow for meaningful
investment and returns on agricultural production. Finally, the result in Table
1 shows that a whooping percentage of the respondents 93.7% had no access to
formal loan. This implies that they face financial incapacitation in carrying out
agricultural production in the study area. Credit is an important factor in
agricultural production especially in purchasing of farm inputs and hiring of labour (Abah et al., 2020).
Table 1: Distribution of respondents by socio-economic
features (n = 288)
S/N
VARIABLE
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
1.
Gender
Male
218
75.7
Female
70
24.3
2.
Age
10-20
12
4.2
21-30
66
22.9
31-40
126
43.8
Above 40
84
29.1
3.
Marital status
Single
0
0.0
Married
263
91.3
Divorced
0
0.0
Widowed
25
8.7
4.
Educational qualification
No formal Education
159
55.2
Attended Primary
78
27.1
Attended Secondary
51
17.7
Attended Tertiary
0
0.0
5.
Household size
5-10
34
11.8
11-15
106
36.8
16-20
113
39.2
Above 20
35
12.2
6.
Farming experience
1-10
29
10.1
11-20
32
11.1
21-30
140
48.6
Above 30
87
30.2
7.
Farm size
1-2
91
31.6
3-4
103
35.8
5-6
53
18.4
8-10
29
10.1
Above 10
12
4.1
8.
Access to formal loan
Access
18
6.3
No access
270
93.7
Source: Field survey, 2022.
Factors
promoting food insecurity
The distribution of
respondents according to their perception on factors promoting food insecurity
among farm households in Ebonyi state was analysed using a 4-pont likert
rating scale as presented in table 2. Following the decision rule, mean scores
of 2.5 and above indicated agreement while those below 2.5 showed disagreement.
Based on the result in table 3, the respondents agreed that factors such as poverty
(mean = 3.7), poor crop yield (mean = 3.6), illiteracy (3.5), lack of improved
crop/livestock varieties (mean = 3.4), lack of governmental support (mean =
3.3), high cost of farm input (mean = 3.2), pests/disease attack (mean = 3.1) and socio-political crises (3.0) play critical
role in promoting food insecurity in the study area. Table 2 further revealed
that the respondents were of the opinion that factors such as low level of farm
technology (mean = 1.8), environmental hazards (mean = 2.0), scarcity of
farmland (mean = 2.1) and poor extension services had no pronounced influence
on the promotion of hunger and malnutrition in the study area. This finding is
in consonance with that of Otaeha (2013) who opined
that poverty, conflict, bad governance, natural disaster, high cost of farm
input as well as low literacy level were the major factors promoting food
insecurity in Nigeria.
Table 2: Distribution of respondents by
perception on factors promoting food insecurity
S/N
FACTOR
SA
A
D
SD
MEAN
DECISION
1.
Poverty
852
225
0
0
3.7
Agree
2.
Socio-political crises
460
318
84
25
3.0
Agree
3.
Environmental hazards
64
81
362
64
2.0
Disagree
4.
Poor extension
services
96
114
406
26
2.2
Disagree
5.
Low literacy level
708
258
36
7
3.5
Agree
6.
Lack of governmental
support
572
282
64
19
3.3
Agree
7.
Poor crop yields
696
303
26
0
3.6
Agree
8.
Scarcity of farmland
124
78
262
100
2.1
Disagree
9.
Pest/disease attack
392
438
80
4
3.1
Agree
10.
High cost of farm
inputs
452
366
92
7
3.2
Agree
11.
Lack of improved
crop/livestock varieties
660
264
70
0
3.4
Agree
12.
Low level of farm
technology
76
69
288
102
1.8
Disagree
Source: Field survey, 2022.*Decision rule: Take 2.5 and above as agree, otherwise as disagree
Effects
of socio-economic variables on food security
Result of the multiple
regression analysis presented in table 3 revealed that the coefficient of
multiple determination (R2) was 78.2%, while the adjusted (R2)
was 64.5%. This result implies that about 78.2% change on the dependent
variable (food insecurity) was caused by the combined effects of the socio-economic
variables included in the multiple regression model. The outstanding 21.8%
variation was attributable to some variables that are relevant to it, but were
not incorporated in this multiple regression model.In comparison, the value of coefficient of
multiple determination R2 (78.2%) is very close to that of the
adjusted (R2) indicating that the multiple regression model was not
exaggerated. Again, the value of the F-ratio (1.34) is low which indicates
statistical reliability as the value of the standard error estimates (0.168) was
also low. The coefficients of gender (X1) and age (X2)
were positive and statistically significant at 1 % level
respectively. This is an indication that both gender and age have positive
influence on farm households’ ability to provide for their families. Thus, this
finding is in line with the a priori expectations (an a priori argument,
reason, or probability is based on an assumed principle or fact, rather than on
actual observed facts). The coefficients of
marital status (X3) and educational qualification (X4)
had both positive sign and statistically significant at 10% and 1% levels
respectively. This is in agreement with the findings of Emmanuel (2018), who
observed that marital status and level of education have positive influence on
a family’s food security. Besides, household size (X5) was positive
and significant at 1% level, farming experience (X6) was also
positive and significant at 1% level, farm size (X7) is positive and
statistically significant at 1% level while access to credit (X8) is
positive and statistically significant as well but at 5% level. The above findings concurred with Okpolu et al (2018) who studied household food security among rural household in Afikpo
North Local Government Area of Ebonyi state and
obtained similar results.
Table 3:Regression analysis on effects of socio economic variables on the
food security status of farming
households
Variable
(symbol)
Variable
(name)
Regression
coefficient
Standard
errors
T-value
Level
of
significance
X
Constant
1.573
.514
3.026
.005
X1
Gender
.107
.075
1.056
.027
X2
Age
.060
.080
.573
.008
X3
Marital status
.000
.085
-.003
.100
X4
Educational qualification
.133
.103
1.173
.023
X5
Household size
.010
.114
.089
.009
X6
Farming experience
.082
.084
.883
.041
X7
Farm size
.173
.091
2.020
035
X8
Access to credit
.154
.106
1.448
.016
R2
=78.2%
Adjusted R2
= 64.5%
F- Ratio = 1.34
Standard error value=0.168
Source: Field survey, 2022.
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Food unlike other
commodities is indispensable for man’s existence. Thus, all efforts must be
geared towards improving its production and distribution on sustainable basis
in every household.Unfortunately, most of the food production
activities in Nigeria are carried out by rural farmers who lack capital, skills,
security, energy and other necessary inputs required for large scale production.
In line with the findings of this study, it was concluded that the
socio-economic and political factors that pose threats to agricultural
production such as poverty, poor crop
yield, illiteracy, lack of improved crop/livestock varieties, lack of
governmental support, high cost of farm input, pests/disease attack and
socio-political crises should be addressed through wholistic
approach.Based on the findings of this research, I hereby recommend
as follows:
1.Government should make
free and compulsory out of school education programmes
a priority through adequate funding of agricultural extension services in order to
improve the educational and associated features of the respondents in the study
area.
2.Government should provide regular
farm incentives such as grants, subsidized inputs, loan, improved
crop/livestock varieties and modern farm equipment for the rural farming
households.
3.Government should show genuine
support for rural farmers in order to reduce poverty, high cost of farm inputs
and lack of improved crop/livestock varieties
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Cite this Article: Esheya, SE; Ogbonna,
SI; Nwandu, PI (2024). Empirical Analysis of the
Factors Promoting Food Insecurity among Farming Households in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 14(1): 33-39.
