NEXUS BETWEEN SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF FARMING HOUSEHOLD IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines the relationship between farmer’s socioeconomic variables and food security status among farming household in Kano State, Nigeria. A total of 240 respondents were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a schedule questionnaire and analysis done using frequency distribution, means and Regression analysis (binary logistics).The result showed that Majority are male (91.3%) with more than half of them (52.5%)having less than secondary school education. The mean age of the respondents is 44years with an average of household number of 6people and an average income of N100, 708 on a monthly basis. The study revealed an insignificant percentage (5%) of respondents as food secured while 95% were food insecure. The logistic model showed that household with male head are 52% more likely to be food secured while those who are above 40years of age are 60% less likely to be food secured.  Both income and household size are positively related to food security status in the study area while farm experience and farm size displayed a negative relationship to food security status. It is thereby recommended that more effort should be geared towards intensifying training on modern farming and post- harvest handling to improve availability of food while policy should be geared towards enhancing commercial farming to increase income among the farming households in the study area