Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: August | Volume: 5 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 197-209
Food Insecurity and Coping Strategies among Female Headed Households in Rural Areas of Southeast, Nigeria
Ume S I1, Ezeano2, C I, Udefi I O3
1Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu Ivo Local Government, Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka,
Anambra State, Nigeria
3Nigeria Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Yaba Lagos.
Corresponding Author: Ume S I
ABSTRACT
Food insecurity and coping strategies among female headed households in rural areas of South East, Nigeria were studied. The specific objectives of the study are to determine the socio-economic characteristics of female headed household; identify causes of food insecurity among female headed households; ascertain the determinant factors to household food security status among female headed household; analyze the coping strategies adopted by female headed households and identify the limiting factors to female headed household in attainment of food security.120 respondents were selected using multi stage random sampling procedure. Questionnaire was used to collect the data. Percentage responses and Logit regression model were used to determine the research objectives. The results revealed that the most of the respondents were aged, widowed and moderately educated. Also, natural disaster was the major cause of food insecurity and reduction in meal frequency was a popular cooping strategy adopted by the household. Furthermore, age of household, level of education, income level, and membership of social organization were the determinants to households’ access to food security. Finally, the major limiting factors to the attainment of the farmers’ food security were poor access to credit and extension services. The needs to enhance the women’s access to education, credit and extension services were recommended.
Key words: Food insecurity, Coping strategies, Female headed, Household, Rural areas .
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