ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF FAO IN INCREASING FOOD SECURITY AMONG FOOD CROP FARMERS IN JERE LGA BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the role of FAO in increasing food security among food crop farmers in Jere LGA of Borno State, Nigeria. Multi stage random sampling was used in drawing 100 respondents for this study. Information was collected using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyzed data for this study; descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, mean and percentages and food security index were used, inferential statistics in the form of logit regression was also used. Male dominated food crop production with (66%). Majority (34%) of the food crop farmers in Jere LGA were between the age bracket of (41- 50) years. Overwhelming majority of (81%) were married, and majority of (60%) had household members between (5-8) persons. The level of education was very poor as majority of (42%) had no formal education. The contribution of FAO in increasing the food security among crop farmers in Jere LGA were (assisting in diversifying livelihood 96%, farmer field school 89%), distribution of seeds, 87%). The food security status of the food crop farmers was (65%) were food secure. The logistic regression model was used to examine the socioeconomic characteristics on food security. The results revealed that 9 out of 10 variables included in the model were significant at (5% or 1%).  The significant variable at 5% were age, household size, education, farm size, farming experience, access to credit, access to extension service, while marital status, income and access to credit were significant at 1%. The value of R2 that the model explains that 54.7% variation in the data. Government should support FAO in order to ensure that food crop farmers have access to improved farm input such as seed, fertilizers, and others, gets to food crop farmers easily. Large household sizes and farm size were found affect food security level in the study area. Therefore, policy measures were directed towards the provision of better family planning, increased awareness and access to family planning facilities should give adequate attention and priority by government. In view of this, strategies for an effective community participation in design of concept and messages aimed at imparting knowledge about family planning to households are recommended.