EFFECT OF PRICE INFLATION ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN NARAGUTA A AND B WARDS OF JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study was carried out to assess the effect of price inflation on food security among households in Naraguta A&B of Jos North Plateau State, Nigeria. Therefore, the specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area; Determine the household food security status of the respondents, identify the causes of food price inflation among the respondents, examine the perceived effects of food price inflation on household food security and identify the coping strategies adopted by households to cushion the effects of rising food prices. Primary data was collected using questionnaires structured in line with the objectives of the study. A multistage sampling was adopted as the procedure to select respondents, estimated sample size of 148 questionnaires were administered to the respondents in the study area. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents revealed that 53.3% were females while the mean age of the responded was 36.6years. it was revealed that most of the respondent were literate (85-81%). It was shown that most of the respondents were married (72-29%). The mean household size was 6 person while was revealed that 37.16% were into farming. It was revealed that most of the respondents were low moderate income earners. It was revealed that a lot of respondents could not eat preferred food (mean: 3.39). It also showed that pest and diseases, and high transport cost were major causes of food price inflation. It was also revealed that hunger and poverty were the major perceived effect food price inflation on household food security (mean: 2.73 respectively). The results revealed that respondents skip one or two meals has their coping strategies adopted. The study therefore concludes that the effect of food price inflation ranges on food insecurity which is faced by many constraints such as high food tariffs, hunger, poverty, low agricultural productivity, low technology adoption and oil price shift. Therefore the study recommended that Improvement of transportation and storage facilities by government will reduce food loss and enhance access to food in underserved areas.