Food Insecurity and Dietary Diversity of the Vulnerable Group in Nigeria: Drivers and Coping Strategies

Abstract

The vulnerable group is the most prone to artificial or natural shocks, which could expose them food insecurity. Yet, there exists a dearth of practical information on their dietary diversity and food security status. This study, therefore, assessed the food security status and dietary diversity of the vulnerable group of Fadama III Additional Financing in Nigeria. Primary data collected from 165 respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cost-of-calories, logit model, household dietary diversity score and Tobit model. The results revealed that the vulnerable group was aged smallholder farmers with a low average monthly income of N13,718 (USD 37.13). The majority (88.5%) were food insecure, while only 11.5% met the daily calorie intake of 2,260 kcal per capita. Educational level, income, and value of productive assets positively influenced their food security status, while household size negatively impacted them. Most of the vulnerable group had low dietary diversity, with a range of 0.31 to 0.40, indicating poor nutrition among them. The determinants of dietary diversity among them were gender, educational level, and household size. The most commonly employed food insecurity coping strategies were allowing children to eat first, collecting food from the wild, selling assets to buy food, eating once a day and purchase food on credit. This study suggests policy measures for educating the vulnerable group ,providing production assets and better family planning for the vulnerable group to enhance their dietary diversity and food security.