Participation in Farmers’ Group and House-Hold Food Security in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the importance of participation in farmers’ groups or associations by the rural farmers in reducing household food insecurity among the rural household in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun state of Nigeria. Issue of food security is an on-going research focal point in the recent times and has received considerable awareness from international agencies, research institutions, planners and various national governments. For so many institutions be it government based or non-governmental, the approach of reaching many rural dwellers, who are major susceptible victims of endemic food insecurity, is of major concern. An average farmer, especially in Nigeria belongs to one farmers’ group or the other with the aim of leveraging on the social derived from such group to exit poverty brought upon such due to poor food insecurity. The major operations and tenets practice within the farmers’ groups or associations can be considered as a fundamental in planning intervention programmes for rural farmers. The tenets or practices can be mainstreamed, when understood, into extension strategies, in helping farmers overcome challenges to household food security.The study was carried in Isokan Local government area of Osun state, in south-western Nigeria. A total number of ninety questionnaires were administered to the rural farmers, who belong to farmer’ groups within their localities. The unit of analysis was the household head, the period of research was the month of February, 2012. Seventy-eight per cent of the respondents were male while twenty-one per cent were female. The forty-nine per-cent of the respondents has family size between five and eight people. There was no significant relationship between sex, marital status and participation in farmers’ group,( the chi-square  P≤0.430 and P≤ 0.275 respectively). There was significant relationship with educational level of the respondents and their participation in farmers’ groups (the chi-square value is P≤ 0.0001 ). The same goes for age with chi-square value of 0.335. The study also revealed that, there is significant relationship between farm size cultivation and participation in farmer’s groups. The study revealed further that, there is significant relationship between respondents’ perception of membership of farmers’ group and the effect on the food security of the households, the chi-square value is 32.882.The study revealed that farmers’ groups can be enhanced by empowering them with requisite information and strategies on household food security, as the farmers can be reached using the groups they can repose their trust in.

Keywods: Livelihood Activities. Food Security. Rural Farmers. Household.