WATER INSECURITY AND FOOD INSECURITY NEXUS AMONG LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study divulges the connection between food insecurity and water scarcity among livestock farmers in Zamfara State. Nigeria. A total of 360 respondents were sampled using multi-stage sampling technique. The primary data collected for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Household water insecurity scale, food security index and logit regression model. Analysis of socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers shows that majority were married (98%), 53.6% of the respondents fell within the range of 41–50 years; suggesting that majority of livestock farmers were youthful and physically fit. Herd size indicates that 90.6% keep less than 61 livestock. The average household size was 9 person. Education of the farmers reveals that 30.06% had formal education and 69.04 % attended informal education. The HWISE scale analysis of water insecurity shows that 54.4% were water insecure, while 45.6% of the livestock farmers were water secured. This implies that water insecurity was predominant and adversely affects livestock farmers in the study area. The Food security index revealed that 65% of the livestock farmers were food insecured, while 35% were food secured. The result of logit model indicates that among the hypothesized variables, household size, herd size, farming experience, education status, extension visit and water scarcity were the factors influencing food security status of the livestock farmers in the study area. The study concluded that water scarcity has a negative relationship with the food security status of the livestock farmers. The study recommends that governments construct more subterranean water resources in order to increase water access and lessen shortages and Livestock farmers are urged to make investments in infrastructure for rainwater harvesting.