Role of Indigenous Social Organizations in Enhancing Food Security: A Case Study of Some Selected States in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined role of indigenous social organizations in enhancing food security in selected states of in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It examined the farmers’ characteristics, years of experience and roles carried out by indigenous social organizations, ascertained perceived benefits of participating farmers, and; identified the factors that limit farmers from effectively participating in these organizations. Primary data used were obtained through the use of reliable and validated question instrument. The respondents numbering 224 were selected through multi- stage sampling technique. The generated data were analyzed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that most (58.48%) of the farmers were also civil servants and they (73.66%) were into part-time farming. Participants of indigenous social organizations (ISO) average farm size, farm experience, and farm income were 3.01 ha., 11.4 years and N280,750.00 respectively. The regular activities carried out by the respondents were savings and loans, provision of credits to members, crop farming, supply of farm inputs and processing of farm products (they had means ? 2.00). Perceived benefits achieved from participating in their groups include improvement of farm output, farm income, standard of living and farming skills. The difference in mean farm income between participants and non – participants was N116,964.29 (significant at the 5% level) and it was in favour of group participants. In addition, Logistic regression showed that farm size (b = 1.758), farming status (b = 0.839), farming experience (b = 0.259) and participation index (b = 0.243) were significant to respondents farm income. Based on findings the study recommends the need for the indigenous group leaders to seek and incorporate members’ views in times of designing activities for the group. Also, leaders of the groups should ensure that benefits accruing to the groups are equitably distribute