AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development

PERSPECTIVES ON FOOD SECURITY AND COPING STRATEGIES OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Author:  Offiong Samuel Offor, Ekaette Sunday Udoh, Ubon Asukwo Essien

Abstract
The paper examined perspectives on food security and coping strategies of farm households in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from three hundred and eighty four (384) crop farmers that were randomly selected from four States from the region. Data were and analyzed using; frequencies, percentages, Household Food Security Survey Model and Multiple Discriminant Function Analysis. Based on the food security analysis results, very few farm households in the Niger Delta (12.24%) were marginally food secure, while 35.95% farm households had low food security status and majority of them (51.82%), had very low food security status. Factors such as age, farming experience, education, household income, household size, dependents, and farm size influenced food security status of farm households in the study area. The coping strategies adopted by farmers against food insecurity span from eating once a day (57.03%) to picking leftover food at social functions (7.29%). In addition, occasionally allowing their children to eat first (18.49%) and occasionally buying food on credit (67.45%) were their coping strategies. The study recommends the design of appropriate intervention measures by stakeholders to improve food security in the study area.