Socio-economic and cultural analysis of food security among selected ethnic groups in north central nigeria

Project Abstract

<p> The broad objective of the study was to investigate the socio-economic and<br>cultural dimensions of food security among selected ethnic groups in North Central<br>Nigeria. Specifically, the study was designed to determine food culture and practices of<br>the respondents; determine the household food security status (energy availability) across<br>ethnic groups; determine dietary diversity of the households across cultures; identify<br>perceived constraints militating against household food security; and describe the coping<br>strategies utilized by the households during food shortages. Seven hypotheses and a<br>conceptual framework were developed for the study. The population of the study consists<br>of all ethnic groups in North Central Nigeria. The zone comprises about 60 ethnic groups.<br>Specifically, the study was carried out among Tiv, Igala and Eggon ethnic groups of<br>Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the<br>study. Three ethnic groups (Tiv, Igala and Eggon) and one village per ethnic group were<br>purposively selected based on differences in language and culture. The total sample size<br>for this study was 340 respondents, made up of 120 Tiv households, 108 Igala households<br>and 112 Eggon households. Data for the study were collected through the use of interview<br>schedule.<br>The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean score, food security<br>index, factor analysis; the comparative (reduced) coping strategy index (CSI), logit<br>regression, Kruskal-Wallis (H) statistic and correlation. The study revealed that majority<br>(91.2%) of the respondents were males. The mean age of the respondents was 43.36 years<br>while their mean household size was 5 members. The mean farm size of the respondents<br>was 3.3 hectares while their average fertilizer use was 4.73kg/ha per annum. Majority<br>(53.2%) had no formal education; majority (89.4%) had no access to credit and about<br>53.2% did not participate in non-farm activities. The average output from own production<br>was 6211.79kg and majority (60%) of the respondents possessed goats. The mean farm<br>income; mean non-farm income and average annual household income for the<br>respondents were 69,539.00 naira; 22,486.00 naira and 91,752.00 naira, respectively.<br>Majority (93.2%) of husbands took decisions on household agricultural activities; all<br>respondents practiced subsistence farming; and 94.7% practiced mixed cropping.<br>Majority (88.6%) of the respondents preferred major crops; about 92.5% acquired<br>farmland through inheritance; and the family (67. %) constituted the main source of<br>labour. Majority of the respondents used traditional processing (97.4%) and storage<br>(96.2%) methods. Majority (95.4%) of husbands controlled household income and <br></p>

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