Determinants of Household Food Insecurity in Northern Ghana: An Ordered Probit Approach

Abstract

Even though food insecurity is experienced in different degrees, and in many forms and periods, most studies have often classified food insecurity as mild/very low, moderate/low and severe. This study extends the study on food insecurity by examining the relative occurrence of each of these wide categories using ordered probit model and analysing data from 4,288 households in northern Ghana. The study shows that for each of these categories, households’ rural dwelling, age, land size and access to credit significantly increase food insecurity whilst maize crop output and marital status decrease food insecurity. This study reveals that food insecurity is a rural and productivity problem and not a poverty issue (or inadequate credit). We therefore recommend that credit in the form of inputs such as fertiliser, improved seed and mechanisation should be promoted rather than increasing access to credit (cash) to increase household members purchasing power.

Keywords: Northern Ghana, Ordered Probit, Productivity, Rural, Credit, Food Insecurity