Strategies for Enhancing Food Security among Rural Farmers in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Food security is dire necessity, which is why it is a global concern gaining appreciable scholarly attention in recent years. It is yet to gain such an attention among scholars in Abakaliki in particular and Ebonyi as a whole. To that end, this study is aimed at examining strategies for enhancing food security among rural farmers in Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 100 respondents across 10 major agrarian areas of the LGA. They were randomly selected, using purposive sampling technique. Mean score derived from four-point Likert rating scale, logit regression analysis, and factor analysis were used for the analysis of the data. The results show the following strategies for enhancing food security among the farmers: introduction and adoption of modern sustainable farming practices with mean of  = 2.98, upward review of budget allocation to the agriculture sector (  = 2.96), application of sustainable agricultural practices (  = 2.95), and repurposing agricultural and food policy support (  = 2.94). Besides, these strategies are found having significant effects on food security among the farmers. The study concludes that rural farmers in Abakaliki LGA significantly deploy effective strategies for enhancing food security. Among others, the study charges stakeholders in agricultural sector and political realm of public affairs to popularize food security among rural and urban farmers alike, towards ensuring food safety and healthy living among individuals in and outside agrarian societies.