An Estimation of Food Security Status Among Rural Households in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

There are indications that the food security situation in Nigeria has worsened in recent years. Worse hit by this situation, are the rural folks that lack access to sufficient resources to produce or buy quality food. The study focused on the estimation of food security status of rural households in Edo State, Nigeria. The income and expenditure pattern of respondents and their food security statistics were examined. Data used in the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Multistage sampling procedure, involving both purposive and random sampling techniques was used to select 360 respondents for the study. The income-expenditure approach as well as the food consumption (calorie intake) approach, were used to measure food security level of the respondents. The result showed that the mean annual household income in the study area was N341,407.94 with farm income constituting 64% while off-farm income constituted 36%. The mean annual household expenditure was N248,514.9 out of which expenditure on food accounted for 39% of total expenditure. The result further showed that the study area was food insecure as the estimated mean per capita calorie intake of 1,548.2 kcal fell below the FAO recommended food security line of 2,260 kcal. Assessment of the food security statistics of the study area showed that head count ratio was 0.10, shortfall/surplus index was -0.32 and mean food security index was 0.70. It can thus be concluded that rural households in Edo State are food insecure.