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

Abstract

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.