Impact Food Security Research Articles

Impact of Energy Consumption and Food Security on Income Inequality: NARDL Approach from Kazakhstan

Impact of Energy Consumption and Food Security on Income Inequality: NARDL Approach from Kazakhstan

The Financial Challenges of Developing Countries for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Development Under UN Agenda 2030

The study seeks to analyze the financial obstacles confronting poor nations in mitigating the effects of climate change and shifting towards sustainable development trajectories, as outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The paper examines Iraq to highlight difficulties and possibilities pertinent to its context, while the analysis and policy implications extend to several other nations in other areas with analogous concerns. The study employs a quantitative analytical methodology using secondary data on sustainable development indicators, emissions, mortality rates, and finance sources for a sample of 18 developing nations from 2010 to 2020, together with projected data for specific economic indicators extending to 2050. The findings indicate that emerging nations, particularly impoverished ones, would encounter the most significant dangers from climate change while not being accountable for its causation. Developing nations are experiencing escalating environmental concerns due to climate change, including floods, droughts, pollution, desertification, and declining water levels. Consequently, these nations must intensify their efforts to address these difficulties and develop measures to safeguard the environment and natural resources. Numerous developing nations depend significantly on the agricultural sector for revenue and employment, confronting emerging difficulties from climate change that result in diminished agricultural output and land degradation, impacting food security and the local economy. Climate change may adversely affect emerging nations' economies, leading to agricultural land degradation and heightened expenses for infrastructure reconstruction.

ANALISIS HARGA PANGAN POKOK TERHADAP KETAHANAN PANGAN DI INDONESIA

Food security ensures that sufficient, high-quality food is accessible to everyone for optimal consumption. Rising food prices can severely impact food security, especially for economically vulnerable groups. This research investigates the relationship between staple food prices and food security in Indonesia, focusing on factors like rice energy intake, egg protein intake, Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) per capita, and regional conditions on Java, Bali, and other islands. Data from all Indonesian provinces for 2018-2020 is analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression method. The Food Security Index (IKP) comes from the National Food Agency’s Food Security Index Book, and food price data is sourced from the National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIHPS). Control data such as GRDP per capita is from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), while rice energy and egg protein intake data are from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Food Consumption Directory. The analysis reveals that rising rice prices from 2018 to 2020 significantly negatively affected food security. The study recommends evaluating rice price policies to maintain stability and enhance food accessibility. Similar evaluations for egg prices are also suggested to ensure protein availability for the community.

Farmers' perception, knowledge, and control attitudes of rodents infesting cereal growing areas in Morocco.

Rodent pests threaten agricultural cropping systems, impacting food security and small-holder farmers' income in cereal-growing areas. This study investigated knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) toward rodents infesting Moroccan cereal crops through a survey of 100 farmers in two regions (Rabat-Sale-Kenitra and Fes-Meknes). A constructive questionnaire about all rodent aspects was created and distributed to the farmers. Rodent infestation is perceived in most fields (80%), with Mus musculus (28%) and Rattus rattus (26%) being the most prevalent species. Farmers perceived rodents negatively (> 90%), considering them as a major threat. Most of the control attitudes against rodent infestation were positive when continuously established and promoted. The farmer profile was shown to influence rodent knowledge and control attitude. Younger, educated, and experienced farmers understood rodent damage trends better and adopted environmental-friendly management practices, while older, inexperienced respondents preferred to use rodenticides instead. The study revealed novel insights into rodent problems in Moroccan cereal fields and urged the need for ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Leveraging crop yield forecasts using satellite information for early warning in Senegal

Agricultural losses driven by climate variability and anthropogenic pressures have severely impacted food security in Senegal. There is a crucial need to generate early warning signals for the upcoming season to enhance food security in response to the sudden climate shocks like drought. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of maize and groundnut using factor analysis with a principal component approach. We aimed to identify suitable predictors of crop yields for the development of a seasonal yield prediction model. Subsequently, multi-regression analysis was performed to predict crop yield based on various combinations of satellite-derived vegetation and climate (rainfall) datasets as well as agronomic data from Senegal's 40 districts between 2010 and 2021. Studies revealed a strong correlation between seasonal rainfall (May to September) and crop yield: a 10–20% decline in rainfall can lead to crop losses. The accuracy of the yield prediction model, built on the best performing scenarios for each district based on monsoon onset, duration, and planting time, exceeded 0.5 (R-squared) for all districts when combining rainfall and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. The model prediction accuracy varied between 0.6 and 0.8 for major crop growing areas. The study emphasizes that refining the yield prediction model using machine learning techniques can improve its accuracy and enable its implementation in early warning systems. This enhanced capability could bolster Senegal's resilience to climate change by aiding decision-makers and planners in developing more effective strategies to ensure food security.

Differential impact of financial hardship on food security between lesbian, gay, and bisexual and heterosexual cancer survivors in the United States.

137 Background: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) cancer survivors experience more food insecurity as well as financial hardship than heterosexual cancer survivors. However, how financial hardship impacts food security differently between LGB and heterosexual survivors has not been explored. Methods: National Health Interview Survey data from 2019-2022 were pooled and weighted. Outcomes included a food insecurity measure (food secure, low food security, very low food security) and the manifestations of food insecurity (e.g., cutting size of meals, losing weight due to lack of food). Financial hardship was captured as a binary measure, dichotomized from an 11-item scale which included ability to pay medical bills, worry about paying bills, and delayed or foregone care due to costs. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Chi-Squared tests. Multinomial logistic regression models with an interaction between LGB status and financial hardship status were used to generate relative risk ratios controlling for age, time since last cancer diagnosis, sex, race, region, and year. Results: Of N=13,131 cancer survivors, 2.8% (n=374) identified as LGB. Low/very low food security was reported by 15.6% of LGB survivors in comparison to 6.1% of heterosexual survivors (p<0.001). When stratified by financial hardship, LGB survivors were more likely to report food insecurity in the presence of (22.3% vs. 11.2%, p<0.001) and absence of (6.8% vs. 2.2%, P<0.001) financial hardship. LGB survivors with very low food security often reported cutting the size/cutting meals (93.4%), eating less than they should (94.7%), and being hungry because they could not afford food (80.7%). In the multinomial model, LGB survivors with financial hardship had 5.6 (95%CI:2.9-10.7) times the relative risk of low food security, while heterosexual survivors with financial hardship had 3.9 the relative risk of low food security (95%CI: 2.9-5.2) in comparison to heterosexual survivors with no financial hardship. Furthermore, LGB survivors with financial hardship had 11.8 (95%CI:6.2-22.5) the relative risk of very low food security, LGB survivors with no financial hardship had 6.4 (95%CI: 2.0-20.2) the relative risk of very low food security, and heterosexual survivors with financial hardship had 5.3 the relative risk of low food security (95%CI: 3.6-7.7) in comparison to heterosexual survivors with no financial hardship. Conclusions: Experiencing financial hardship was associated with an increased risk of food insecurity among LGB and heterosexual cancer survivors. However, LGB survivors were more likely to experience food insecurity than heterosexual survivors even when controlling for financial hardship.

Remotely Sensed Comparative Spatiotemporal Analysis of Drought and Wet Periods in Distinct Mediterranean Agroecosystems

Drought is a widespread natural hazard resulting from an extended period of reduced rainfall, with significant socioeconomic and ecological consequences. Drought severity can impact food security globally due to its high spatial and temporal coverage. The primary objective of this paper consists of a comparative spatiotemporal analysis of environmental extremes (drought/wetness) through the estimation of a twelve-month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI12) between three distinct vulnerable agricultural regions in the Mediterranean basin (i.e., Spain, Lebanon and Tunisia), under a climate change environment in the last 38 years (1982–2020). The added value of this paper lies in the simultaneous estimation of temporal and spatial variability of drought and wetness periodic events, paying special attention to the geographical patterns of these extremes both in annual and interannual (seasonal) time scales. The results indicated that Spain and Tunisia (western Mediterranean) exhibit similar patterns over the studied period, while Lebanon demonstrates contrasting trends. Comparing the two extreme dry hydrological years, the Spanish study area faced the highest drought intensity, areal extent and duration (SPI12 = −1.18; −1.84; 28–78%; 9–12 months), followed by the Lebanese (SPI12 = −1.28; −1.39; 37–50%; 7–12 months) and the Tunisian ones (SPI12 = −1.05; −1.08; 10–34%; 8 months). Concerning the wettest hydrological years, the Lebanese study domain has recorded the highest SPI12 values, areal extent and duration (SPI12 = 1.58; 2.28; 66–83%; 8–11 months), followed by the Tunisian (SPI12 = 1.55; 1.79; 49–73%; 7–10 months) and Spanish one (SPI12 = 1.07; 1.99; 21–73%; 4–11 months). The periodicity of drought/wetness episodes is about 20 years in Spanish area and 10 years in the Lebanese area (for drought events), whereas there seems no periodicity in the Tunisian one. Understanding the spatial distribution of drought is crucial for targeted mitigation strategies in high-risk areas, potentially avoiding broad, resource-intensive measures across entire regions.

The effect of natural disasters on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose This study aims to assess the effects of natural disasters on food security in a sample of 40 sub-Saharan African countries. First, the authors assess the effects of natural disasters on the four dimensions of food security and second, the authors disaggregate natural disaster using the two dimensions that are most representative, namely, hydrological and biological disasters. Design/methodology/approach The regressions are based on the generalised method of moments on a data set covering the period 2005–2020. Natural disasters are measured by the total number of people affected and food security by its characteristics: access, availability, use and sustainability. Findings The results show that natural disasters increase the prevalence of undernourishment but reduce dependence on cereal imports. An increase in natural disasters by 1% increases the prevalence of undernourishment by the same proportion. As for import dependency, a 1% increase in natural disasters reduces dependency by 2.2%. The disaggregated effects show that hydrological disasters are more significant than biological disasters in impacting food security. Floods reduce the average energy supply adequacy but also dependence on cereal imports. Policy implications are discussed. Originality/value The study complements the extant literature by assessing the effects of natural disasters on food security in a region where food insecurity is one of the worst in the world.

Indigenous knowledge management: a catalyst for food security among Ghanaian yam farmers during COVID-19

ABSTRACT The research examined the influence of indigenous knowledge management on the food security of Ghanaian subsistence yam farmers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, utilising a descriptive correlation survey approach. The study encompassed 384 yam farmers selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the study. A statistically significant relationship was found between food security and various elements that support knowledge management processes. These factors, along with knowledge distribution (i.e. dissemination of indigenous knowledge) and knowledge conversion (i.e. adapting indigenous knowledge into community activities), jointly explained 74.0% of food security variation among peasant farmers during the pandemic. Indigenous knowledge management positively impacted food security in this context. Integrating indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural practices could enhance productivity and sustainability. The study underscores the importance of involving local communities in designing food security interventions for lasting positive impacts on livelihoods. It recommends the active participation of local people in shaping such interventions.

Comparative analysis of leaf area index and maize yield estimation assimilating remote sensing and DSSAT crop simulation model

Maize is a global staple crop, impacting food security, economic development, and agricultural sustainability. This study investigates the integration of Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data with the DSSAT CERES-Maize crop simulation model to estimate Leaf Area Index (LAI) and rabi maize yield in Belagavi district, Karnataka. Field data, including LAI, days to anthesis, silking, grain filling, and farmers' field practices, were collected for model calibration and validation, supplemented by crop-cutting experiments (CCE) to determine actual yields. The study revealed strong correlations between LAI values obtained from remote sensing (RS) and field observations, with RS-derived LAI showing an average agreement of approximately 96.07% compared to field measurements. The DSSAT model exhibited slightly better performance, averaging 97.09%. Statistical analysis for LAI showed an R² value of 0.853 for RS and 0.864 for DSSAT, indicating strong correlations with observed LAI values. For maize yield estimation, the DSSAT model demonstrated higher accuracy with an average yield of 8129 kg/ha, compared to RS-derived yield averages of 7533.9 kg/ha and CCE yield averages of 8096.6 kg/ha. The average concordance between DSSAT and CCE yields was 94.19%, while RS and CCE yields had an average concordance of 92.29%. Statistical analyses revealed coefficients of determination of 0.854 for DSSAT-CCE and 0.867 for RS-CCE comparisons. The study underscores the value of combining RS data with DSSAT for comprehensive and accurate crop yield forecasting, highlighting the potential for improved agricultural assessments and decision-making.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Maruca vitrata, a significant pest of legumes, impacts food security in Asia and Africa. This study presents a high-quality genome assembly of M. vitrata, utilizing advanced sequencing technologies including Nanopore long-read, MGI short-read, and Hi-C. The genome, totaling 482.3 Mb with a contig N50 of 2.91 Mb, features 41.58% repetitive sequences and encompasses 13,320 protein-coding genes. We performed comparative genomic analyses to affirm the accuracy and completeness of the protein sequences assembled, ensuring the assembly’s integrity. Additionally, the annotation of 83 Cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes further confirms the comprehensive nature of the genome assembly and its annotations. This genome assembly not only deepens our understanding of M. vitrata biology but also supports the development of sustainable pest management strategies. This research highlights the importance of genomics in advancing sustainable agricultural solutions through innovative pest management approaches.

Effects of Changing Weather Patterns on Household Food Availability in Bukiro Sub County Mbarara District

Changing weather patterns and their variables are already negatively impacting food security by damaging crops, reducing yields, and increasing the prevalence of pests and diseases. These pests and diseases contend with crops for sunlight, water, and nutrients, further diminishing agricultural yields and creating issues for crops that were previously unexposed to these threats. Climate-related disruptions in food distribution and transportation, both internationally and domestically, have a substantial impact on not just safety and quality but also access to food. Prolonged dry spells followed by heavy and stormy rains cause interruptions in food production and transportation, reducing farmers' ability to get their grains to market and potentially affecting food prices. This study assessed farmers’ perceptions of effects of changing weather patterns on food security and their coping strategies towards effects of weather changing patterns in smallholder households in Bukiro Sub County, Mbarara District. A sample of 100 smallholder farmers were randomly selected from four parishes of Bukiro sub county and studied using questionnaire and observations. Key informants Interviews were also conducted with nine technical workers and three opinion leaders. Software STAT 26 and Ms excel version 2016 were used to do data analysis. The study found out that changing weather patterns through its variables specifically heavy and stormy rains, late of set of rains, and prolonged dry spells had significant effects on food security. The perceived effects of changing weather patterns established were drying up of water sources (83.8%), decreased land for crop growing (82.4%), reduction in crop yields (77.7%), drying of pastures for animals (67.4%), drying of crops (58.1%), and occurrence of crop and livestock pests and diseases at (56.6%). Also, the perceived weather changing variabilities were late onset of rains (60.1%), prolonged dry spells were responded at 17.6%, and heavy and stormy rains 22.3%. From the study finding farmers clearly perceived that changing weather patterns had negative effects smallholders’ agricultural production systems impacting negatively on food security

Innovative Approaches for Climate-Resilient Farming: Strategies against Environmental Shifts and Climate Change

Climate change, driven predominantly by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, is causing significant alterations to global weather patterns. This phenomenon results in more frequent and severe weather events, including prolonged droughts, intense rainfall, and shifting temperature regimes. Such changes pose a substantial threat to agriculture, a sector highly dependent on stable climatic conditions. Crop yields are increasingly unpredictable due to these extreme weather events and shifting growing seasons, impacting food security and livelihoods worldwide. To address these challenges, climate resilience agriculture has emerged as a pivotal solution. This approach involves adopting farming practices and technologies designed to withstand and adapt to changing climatic conditions. Strategies include diversifying crop varieties, precision agriculture, climate smart agriculture, nano biochar application, coated fertilizer applications, natural farming, site specific nutrient management, mulching, precise water management, seed bombing, direct seeding in rice, implementing soil conservation methods etc. Additionally, climate resilience agriculture promotes the integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements to enhance ecosystem robustness and productivity. By fostering adaptive capacity and reducing vulnerability, climate resilience agriculture aims to safeguard food systems and sustain agricultural productivity in the face of ongoing climate disruptions.

Twenty Years of Land Accounts in Europe

Land use and its change impact food security, carbon cycling, biodiversity, and, hence, the condition of ecosystems to mitigate and adapt to climate change, support economic prosperity, and human well-being. To support and guide policy actions between the economy and the environment, harmonized time series datasets, transparent methodologies, and easily interpretable statistics are needed. Therefore, monitoring of the function and condition of lands and their change, along with properly agreed methodologies and freely accessible data, are essential. The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service has produced over 20 years of Corine Land Cover datasets for 39 countries in Europe, which allows continental-wide harmonized and comparable monitoring and accounting of land cover and land use change at a high thematic resolution and in a long time series (2000–2018). With the upcoming 2024 update, the time series will reach a unique product worldwide in terms of time series length, spatial resolution, extent, and thematic detail, enabling policymakers and the scientific community to address the main anthropogenic drivers of land and ecosystem degradation. This paper describes a unified approach for producing continental-wide land accounts that aligns with internationally agreed-upon standards for measuring the environment and its relationship with the economy. Furthermore, the study provides a harmonized time series of geospatial data for deriving land accounts and provides statistics of land cover and land use status and changes for a twenty-year period. All geospatial data and statistics presented in this paper are freely accessible and downloadable to serve other studies.

Creating cities and food security challenge: Evidence from the city–county merger policy in China

The prevailing literature posits a linear relationship between urbanization and food security. Using a policy in China that promotes government-led urbanization through creating cities, specifically city–county merger, we show the existence of a non-linear relationship. Based on the time-dynamic results obtained using national county-level panel data from 2000 to 2020, a potential non-linear characteristic of both decreasing and increasing trends before eventually dissipating has been identified. Mechanism analysis demonstrates that the city–county merger negatively impacts food security by causing labor mobility and cultivated land factor loss. However, the policy's integration of regional markets fosters quality and efficiency improvement in agriculture. The effects of amplified resource pressure and efficiency gains have opposing impacts that vary over time, ultimately resulting in a non-linear relationship. These insights into the debate on urbanization and food security have important policy implications for regions worldwide that are experiencing rapid urbanization, particularly for developing countries.

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Maize to Elevated CO2 Concentrations: Implications for Growth and Metabolism

Rising atmospheric CO2 levels, a significant consequence of anthropogenic activities, profoundly impact global agriculture and food security by altering plant physiological processes. Despite extensive research, a comprehensive understanding of the specific effects of elevated CO2 on maize (Zea mays L.)’s primary and secondary metabolism remains elusive. This study investigated the responses of maize seedlings cultivated in open-top chambers (OTCs) under three CO2 concentrations: ambient (380 ppm), elevated (600 ppm), and high (1800 ppm). Key growth parameters, including plant height, leaf area, and aboveground biomass (leaf and stem), were assessed alongside metabolic profiles encompassing nonstructural and structural carbohydrates, syringyl (S) and guaiacyl lignin, the syringyl-to-guaiacyl (S/G)-lignin ratio, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble protein, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The results demonstrated that exposure to 600 ppm CO2 significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area, and aboveground biomass compared to ambient conditions. Concurrently, there were notable increases in the concentrations of primary metabolites. In contrast, exposure to 1800 ppm CO2 severely inhibited these growth parameters and induced reductions in secondary metabolites, such as chlorophyll and soluble proteins, throughout the growth stages. The findings underscore the intricate responses of maize metabolism to varying CO2 levels, highlighting adaptive strategies in primary and secondary metabolism under changing atmospheric conditions. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of maize’s physiological adaptations to future climate scenarios characterized by elevated CO2, with implications for sustainable agriculture and food security.

Maternal Malnutrition and Its Associated Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Childbirth in Dadu District, Sindh, Pakistan

Background: Maternal malnutrition poses serious risks to both mother and child, contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as anemia, pre-eclampsia, and low birth weight. Addressing maternal malnutrition is essential for promoting healthy pregnancies and favorable birth outcomes. Methodology: The study involved 660 third-trimester pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in Dadu district, Sindh, Pakistan. The aim was to identify the association patterns of maternal nutrition on birth outcomes to inform future programming. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach with a snowballing technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using R-Studio and Canvas software to analyze associations and differences related to maternal nutrition. Results: The majority of rural participants (84%) intended to deliver at DHQ Dadu, with 81% facing inconsistent family income sources, impacting food security and healthcare access. Maternal education positively correlated with healthcare service utilization, while maternal counseling had a weaker influence. Early pregnancies were prevalent, with 29% of women reporting their first pregnancy before age 20 and 6.7% before age 16. Iron and folic acid utilization was suboptimal (20.4%), and access to healthcare was hindered by distance, cost, and inconsistent coverage, particularly in rural areas. Maternal malnutrition was a significant concern, with 15.4% identified as acutely malnourished. Conclusion: The study highlights significant challenges, including socioeconomic disparities, early pregnancies, inadequate healthcare access, and poor maternal nutrition status. Targeted interventions such as improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing maternal education, promoting early prenatal care, strengthening community-based nutrition programs, and leveraging social safety net programs can help mitigate adverse birth outcomes.

Participation in livestock-based interventions and its impact on food security in Bangladesh: A quasi-experimental method

Livestock-based interventions play a critical role in enhancing food security in developing countries like Bangladesh, contributing to enhanced livestock productivity, improved household income, ensured food security, women's empowerment, livelihoods advancement, and positioning agriculture as a catalyst for economic growth. The study specifically examines the impact of the livestock and dairy development project (LDDP) intervention on food security in rural livestock farming households in Bangladesh. We gathered data, we are employing simple random sampling, and collecting 180 cross-sectional primary data from both LDDP participants and non-participants. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and propensity score matching approaches were utilized to achieve our research objectives. Livestock farming households with LDDP participants exhibited higher food security, with beneficiaries surpassing non-participants by 52 % and 40 %, respectively. The mean per capita calorie intake for LDDP participant households was 1966.134 (Kcal), whereas non-participant households recorded 1762.130 (Kcal). The results demonstrate that LDDP intervention significantly and positively impacts food security, women's empowerment, household welfare, and income. These interventions have the potential to enhance nutrition and boost household income, thereby contributing to the stability of food security. Consequently, we recommended an expansion of LDDP intervention, encompassing less resourceful farmers with adequate logistical support. This study illustrates how employing propensity score matching method (PSM) and implementing the LDDP intervention can effectively improve food security in livestock farming households in Bangladesh.

Indigenous food production in a carbon economy

Indigenous communities in the North American Arctic are characterized by mixed economies that feature hunting, fishing, gathering, and trapping activities-and associated sharing practices-alongside the formal wage economy. The region is also undergoing rapid social, economic, and climate changes, including, in Canada, carbon taxation, which is impacting the cost of fuel used in local food harvesting. Because of the importance of local foods to nutrition, health, and well-being in Arctic Indigenous communities, there is an urgent need to better understand the sensitivity of Arctic food systems to social, economic, and climate changes and to develop plans for mitigating potential adverse effects. Here, we develop a Bayesian model to calculate the substitution value and carbon emissions of market replacements for local food harvests in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Canada. Our estimates suggest that under plausible scenarios, replacing locally harvested foods with imported market substitutes would cost over 3.1 million Canadian dollars per year and emit over 1,000 tons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year, regardless of the shipping scenario. In contrast, we estimate that gasoline inputs to harvesting cost approximately $295,000 and result in 315 to 497 tons of emissions. These results indicate that climate change policies that fail to account for local food production may undermine emissions targets and adversely impact food security and health in Arctic Indigenous communities, who already experience a high cost of living and high rates of food insecurity.

Gendered aspiration among rural youths in agriculture: Implications for food security in Delta State, Nigeria

This research investigates gendered aspirations among rural youths in agriculture and examines their implications for food security in Delta State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to compose a sample focusing on understanding the distinct aspirations of male and female youths in the agricultural sector. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 200 respondents and interview conducted for this study. Data generated from the study were processed and analyzed with percentages of their educational qualifications and age groups, and the hypothesis was tested with t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The research reveals nuanced differences in the aspirations of male and female rural youths, shedding light on factors influencing their aspirations in agriculture, such as educational level, age group, access to resources, and societal expectations. Findings indicate that 61.50% majority were female while 38.50% were male. At the same time, both gender express a keen interest in contributing to the agricultural sector. There are significant differences between young men and women as young women expressed more aspirations in agriculture than young men, directly impacting food security as inequality of young men and women's participation and involvement will affect availability and access to food. Based on these findings, it was recommended that Delta State government should promote the active involvement of young men and women in leadership roles within agricultural organizations and decision-making processes; this can contribute to more inclusive policies and strategies that address the gendered aspects of agricultural aspirations.