Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Food security is important for economic development and growth, social interaction, political stability and security in society. The study examined the food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A total of 250 rural women were surveyed using multi stage random sampling procedure....

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Main Authors: Zelda A. Elum, Tari Digitemie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-09-01
Series:Scientific African
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227623003332
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author Zelda A. Elum
Tari Digitemie
author_facet Zelda A. Elum
Tari Digitemie
author_sort Zelda A. Elum
collection DOAJ
description Food security is important for economic development and growth, social interaction, political stability and security in society. The study examined the food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A total of 250 rural women were surveyed using multi stage random sampling procedure. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, food security index (FSI) and a logistic regression model to achieve the study objectives. The results showed that most of the women were aged, married and educated with a large household size. The result of the FSI showed that 77% and 23% of the rural women were food secured and food insecure respectively. Findings also showed that the variables: age (10%), household size (1%), household headship (10%), source of water (5%) and assets owned (5%) significantly determined households’ food security status. There were significant differences in the socioeconomic characteristics of the food secured and food insecure group of the rural women. It was also observed that high food price, high cost of living, low income, unemployment and flood were major challenges faced by the rural women. In response, the women tackled their food security challenges by relying on less preferred/less expensive food, borrowing food from friends, relatives or neighbor, buying food on credit and reducing spending on children's education. The study recommends that poor rural households be assisted through social welfare or empowerment schemes and also, financial inclusion policies should be promoted by relevant authorities to enable rural women deal with price shocks or volatility.
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spelling doaj.art-aaa753cc77b94173b2e7cbace216668f2023-09-24T05:16:28ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762023-09-0121e01878Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, NigeriaZelda A. Elum0Tari Digitemie1Corresponding author.; Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, NigeriaFood security is important for economic development and growth, social interaction, political stability and security in society. The study examined the food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A total of 250 rural women were surveyed using multi stage random sampling procedure. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, food security index (FSI) and a logistic regression model to achieve the study objectives. The results showed that most of the women were aged, married and educated with a large household size. The result of the FSI showed that 77% and 23% of the rural women were food secured and food insecure respectively. Findings also showed that the variables: age (10%), household size (1%), household headship (10%), source of water (5%) and assets owned (5%) significantly determined households’ food security status. There were significant differences in the socioeconomic characteristics of the food secured and food insecure group of the rural women. It was also observed that high food price, high cost of living, low income, unemployment and flood were major challenges faced by the rural women. In response, the women tackled their food security challenges by relying on less preferred/less expensive food, borrowing food from friends, relatives or neighbor, buying food on credit and reducing spending on children's education. The study recommends that poor rural households be assisted through social welfare or empowerment schemes and also, financial inclusion policies should be promoted by relevant authorities to enable rural women deal with price shocks or volatility.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227623003332RuralFood insecurityWomenHousehold
spellingShingle Zelda A. Elum
Tari Digitemie
Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Scientific African
Rural
Food insecurity
Women
Household
title Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
title_full Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
title_fullStr Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
title_short Assessment of food security status of rural women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
title_sort assessment of food security status of rural women in bayelsa state nigeria
topic Rural
Food insecurity
Women
Household
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227623003332
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