Food security among cashew farming households in Kogi state, Nigeria

The effects of increasing the levels of cashew production on income, food security, nutrition and consumption among rural households are very complex. While its production is expected to boost rural households’ income, it has tendencies of reducing land and other resources for food crop production. However, to the best of the researcher’s knowledge there is not much empirical data available on its effects on households that are engaged in cashew farming in Nigeria. As a result, food security in Nigerian households engaged in cashew farming was analyzed, and the factors influencing food security were identified. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 228 cashew farmers were carefully chosen for this study. Descriptive statistics, logit regression and food security index, were used to evaluate the primary data that was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire. The result revealed that with an average of 2145 kcal per capita calorie intake, the majority (58.8%) of cashew farming households were food insecure. Food security status among cashew farming households was determined by household size, farming experience, education level of households food planner, roots and tubers output, Annual off-farm income, output of cashew and output of cereals. The study recommended the need for nutrition-oriented programmes, adoption of modern family planning techniques and income diversification among cashew farming households.