Food Security Status Of Farmers Research Articles

FACTORS AFFECTING LIVESTOCK HERD SIZE IN THE LEPELLE-NKUMPI MUNICIPALITY OF LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA: A CASE OF SMALLHOLDER CATTLE FARMERS

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate factors affecting cattle herd size in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality, Limpopo Province. Method: A proportionate random sampling technique was used and a total of 261 smallholder cattle farmers were selected as participants in this study. Primary data were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire, where the participants were interviewed face to face. The data obtained were captured and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0. Descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS), using a multiple linear regression model, were employed to analyse factors affecting cattle herd size in the study area. Results and conclusion: Descriptive statistics results revealed that the prevailing factors that affect cattle herd size in the study area included the following: draught; practical knowledge; no/lack of; maintenance; water circulation; access to good breeding stock; poor market prices; grazing land; stock theft; insufficient or no breeding stock and pests/parasites. The OLS regression results, derived from a multiple linear regression model, revealed the variables that significantly affected cattle herd size, and this included age, household size, sales per year, livestock keeping, and planted pasture. Most farmers (91.4%) would like to increase their livestock numbers. It was recommended that extension services should be encouraged, training should be provided, and stakeholders should be engaged to help cattle farmers in the study area. Policies aimed at improving livestock production among smallholder farmers should be informed by the factors and determinates found in this study. Value: This study contributes useful information for potential livestock farmers. In addition, the outcome of this study could be used as the basis for informed policy formulation to improve livestock production which will ultimately improve food security status of farmers.

Perceived Effects of Crop Diversification on Food Security of Farmers in Kwara State Nigeria

Summary This study was conducted to examine perceived effects of crop diversification on food security status of maize-based farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to obtain data from 183 maize-based farmers using an interview schedule. The data were analyzed using Herfindahl indexing, Food Consumption Score of the World Food Programme for determining household food security and Chi-square test. The results showed that the extent of crop diversification was moderate for slightly above half of the respondents (51.4%). The majority of the respondents (91.3%) had acceptable food consumption (>35), which corresponds to their food security situation. Crop diversification among the farmers indicated positive and significant influence of crop diversification on the food security status of the farmers at 1% level of significance using chi-square. More than half of the respondents perceived that crop diversification had strong effects on increased access to food preferences for an active and healthy life (56.3%), access to utilizable and digestible food (57.4%) and access to sufficient food (53.6%). The study concluded that crop diversification practices contributed to food security by increasing access to preferred sufficient, utilizable and digestible food for active and healthy life of maize-based farmers in Kwara State. Thus, extension agents should increase awareness of the importance of crop diversification for the farmers’ output in the study area.

Does contract farming improve rice farmers' food security? Empirical evidence from Ghana

PurposeIn order to improve access to resources for smallholder farmers, efforts are being made to promote contract farming in Ghana. This is seen as a strategy to increase agricultural productivity of farmers, give better market access and guarantee adequate supply of raw materials to agro-based industries. However, the challenge is whether contract farming leads to improvement in food security status of farmers. The study therefore seeks to explore to what extent farmers' food security status is influenced by their participation in contract farming activities.Design/methodology/approachUsing Cragg's double-hurdle model to analyse participation in contract farming, the authors control for selection bias using propensity score matching applied to a data set of 336 observations to examine the impact of contract farming on the food security levels of rice farmers in Ghana.FindingsThe results of this study show that yield of paddy and the wealth of the farmer are the main factors that influence the quantity of paddy rice to be contracted in contract farming arrangements. This study also finds that participation in contract farming will increase food security by 109%. In conclusion, contract farming has a significant positive impact on the farmers' food security status.Originality/valueAgricultural policies and rural development initiatives supporting the promotion and expansion of contract farming should be pursued to persuade more farmers to produce under contract farming agreements.

Effects of Off-farm Income on Poverty and Food Security Status of Farmers in Paikoro Area of Niger State, Nigeria

This study determined the effects of off-farm income on poverty and food security status of farmers in Paikoro Local Government area of Niger state, Nigeria. A total of 150 farmers were selected randomly from six wards across the Local Government Area. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to elicit primary data from the farmers for the study. Descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbeck (FGT) model, Logit regression and Tobit regression models were used for data analysis. Results showed that the mean age of the farmers was 42 years, majority (89.33%) were male while 90.67% were married and 63% had no formal education. The most prevailing off-farm enterprise was trading (74%). The poverty status of the respondents were classified under poor and non-poor with poverty incidence of 41.33% for the poor, poverty gap and severity indices were 37.63% and 14.16% respectively. Logit regression showed membership of association, household size, gender, food expenses, years in formal education, and off-farm income were significant at p=0.01, p=0.01, p=0.05, p=0.05, p=0.05, p=0.05 respectively. The food security status analysis revealed that 67% of the farmers were food secure while 33% were food insecure. Tobit regression results showed household size, farming experience, size of farm and off-farm income at p=0.01 respectively were significant determinants of food security. It was concluded that off-farm income had significant positive effect on the poverty and food security status of the farmers. However, poverty and food insecurity still remain major issues in the area that cannot be over-looked, and as such, efforts should be made to ensure that farmers are encouraged and empowered to engage in profitable off-farm activities while the government should also make policies that will favour their off-farm enterprises.

Digital Learning: New Age Tools and the Changing Education Scenario, Trends and Challenges in India

Information and communication technologies ( ICTs) have a great role to change the existing traditional agricultural system in developing countries. Through application of ICTs in agriculture it is possible to; make efficient information dissemination, bring precision agriculture and increase market access of farmers. Currently, In developing countries majority of rural farmers’ have access to ICT tools, however, most of the farmers have no enough awareness on the significance role of ICTs for agricultural marketing and its subsequent impact on welfare improvement. Thus this review paper is designed to assess ICTs use in agricultural marketing in Africa. The result of this review paper signified that ICTs and agricultural marketing had positive association, in which through application of ICTs in agricu0ltural marketing it is possible to reduce transaction cost, disseminate updated market information and improve the rural farmers’ linkage to market. Moreover, ICTs have also the power to increase farm productivity, income and hence improve the food security status of farmers. Therefore, improving awareness of the rural communities and establishing agricultural information system at the country level is crucial to magnify the potential role of ICTs in agricultural marketing. Keywords : ICTs; Agricultural Marketing; Welfare DOI : 10.7176/IKM/9-10-02 Publication date: November 30 th 2019