Effects of commercialization on food security status of cassava producing households in Abia state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined effects of commercialization on food security status of cassava producers in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the cassava producers; examined the level of cassava commercialization; estimated mean per capita monthly food expenditure of cassava producing households; assessed the food security status of the cassava producing households; ascertained effect of commercialization on the food security status of the respondents and identified the constrained to commercialization. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 96 respondents needed for the study. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential tools such as mean, frequencies, percentage, percentage household commercialization index and food security index. Results showed that the mean age of cassava producing household head was 35.3years. Cumulatively, 93.3% of cassava producing household head had formal education ranging from primary school to secondary with mean household size of 7 persons. Dominant number of the cassava farmers indicated access to credit (75.6%) with mean farm size of 1.9ha and mean farming experience of 9.9years. The result also showed a mean commercialization index of 0.646970. The study area could be regarded as food insecure given that only 35.00% of the households were food secure. The result further indicated that there was a positive relationship between commercialization level and food security in the area. However, instability in government policy (86.67%) and lack of collateral required securing loan (72.22 were major constraints to cassava commercialization in the study area. The study concluded that the proportion of food insecure households is more than the food secure households. Therefore, agricultural policies that promote access of farmers to land and other farm inputs that can lead to increased farm household productivity and income should be implemented.