Income Diversification Strategies and Household Food Security among Rice Farmers: Pointers to Note in the North Tongu District of Ghana

Abstract

Food security has remained topical over the period and Africa in among the world’s most food insecure regions. Several strategies have been adopted by rural dwellers to improve food security but the situation remains prevalent. One such approach is the adoption of income diversification strategies. This study assesses the effect of income diversification strategies of rice farmers on household food security in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region of Ghana with the use of a semi-structured questionnaires. The strategies of concern include ‘Rice income only’ (R); ‘Rice income plus other agricultural incomes’ (RA); ‘Rice income plus non-agricultural incomes’ (RN) and; ‘Rice income plus other agricultural and non-agricultural incomes’ (RAN). The ‘Rice income only’ (R) were those respondents that did not diversify in any way at all; they cultivated only rice The Multinomial Logit Model was used to estimate factors affecting the choice of income strategies. Being a household head, household size, employable skills and household food expenditure significantly affected choice of diversification. Respondents’ household food security was measured using the household dietary diversity score (HDDS). The mean HDDS was 5.81 indicating moderate food security. The Poisson Regression was used to model the effect of income diversification on food security. All the 3 diversification strategies had a positive and significant effect on food security. The study concluded that income diversification had a positive effect on food security and that attainment of high food security was associated with diversification into non-agricultural activities. The study recommends that farmer-field workshops should be organized periodically in the area to train farmers to equip them with non-farm skills so they can explore other opportunities outside of farming. Also, farmer awareness on the need for crop diversification and livestock production should be intensified in the area.