The Influence of Social Networking on Food Security Status of Cassava Farming Households in Nigeria

Luke Oyesola Olarinde, Adebayo Busura Abass, Tahirou Abdoulaye, Adebusola Adenike Adepoju, Matthew Olufemi Adio, Emmanuel Gbenga Fanifosi and Awoyale Wasiu
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Luke Oyesola Olarinde: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 210214, Nigeria
Adebayo Busura Abass: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), regional Hub for Eastern Africa, Dar es Salaam 14110, Tanzania
Tahirou Abdoulaye: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Adebusola Adenike Adepoju: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 210214, Nigeria
Matthew Olufemi Adio: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 210214, Nigeria
Emmanuel Gbenga Fanifosi: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 210214, Nigeria
Awoyale Wasiu: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan 200001, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-35

Abstract: Food security, at national and household levels, is on the decline because traditional capital (physical, natural, human and financial) has not fully led to its improvement. There is an increasing shift of attention to social capital as an element that explains household food security, but there is a lack of adequately documented information on this. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of social capital on food security, using data collected on a cross-section of 775 cassava farming households from four zones of Nigeria. About 58% of the respondents (cassava farming households) fall under the intermediate category in terms of the benefits received from belonging in social groups. Age and educational level increased the probability to receive benefit from group activities ( p < 0.05), while membership density, labor contribution and decision making significantly affected the level of benefit received ( p < 0.10). Based on the estimated food security line, 41% of the cassava households were food secure, while 59% were food insecure. Membership density, cash and labor contribution significantly affected food security. Membership density ( p < 0.10) and cash contribution ( p < 0.05) increased the probability of being food secure. It was recommended that cassava farming households should be encouraged or aided to form cooperatives or farmers’ groups, participate in the activities, and make financial contributions to investments that reduce manual labor-input in the farming activities to enhance household food security.

Keywords: social capital; food security; cassava farmers; composite score; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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