DETERMINANTS OF FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF CROP FARMERS IN OYO STATE

ABSTRACT Food insecurity remains one of the most pressing development challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among smallholder crop farmers who paradoxically produce most of the food yet remain the most food insecure. This study examined the food security status and its determinants among crop farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire and information were elicited from crop farmers in the study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select three hundred (300) respondents across the Ibadan, Oyo, and Saki agricultural zones. Descriptive statistics were used to profile household characteristics while the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess the food security status of the respondents. Inferential statistics such as Ordered Probit Regression Model was used to analyse factors affecting food security in the study area. Results from the HFIAS revealed a high prevalence of food insecurity, with 57.67% of households classified as severely food insecure, 28.67% as moderately food insecure, 2.67% as mildly food insecure, and only 11.0% as food secure. This pattern underscores the depth of food access challenges faced by rural farmers despite their engagement in crop production. The Ordered Probit Regression results showed that education level (β = 0.298, p < 0.01), farming experience (β = 0.139, p < 0.01), farm size (β = 0.121, p < 0.05), access to credit (β = 0.276, p < 0.01), access to extension services (β = 0.354, p < 0.01), and off-farm income (β = 0.427, p < 0.01) significantly improved household food security by reducing the likelihood of food insecurity. Conversely, household size (β = –0.251, p < 0.01) and climate shocks (β = –0.284, p < 0.05) exacerbated food insecurity levels. The study concludes that food insecurity among crop farmers in Oyo State stems largely from limited livelihood resources and exposure to climatic risks rather than low production alone. It recommends among others that quality agricultural extension services and training needs based on sustainable farming practices, better crop management, and climate-resilient techniques should be pursued to improve the food security status of the respondents in achieving sustainable food security. xv