Food Security among Households: Evidence from Rice Consumers in Igbemo Region

Abstract

Problem Statement: Less than half the rice consumed in Nigeria was produced locally. Following the sudden rise in the price of imported rice since 2007, Nigerians, no doubt, have faced great risk of increase in the number of hungry by many millions of people. This study unveiled the challenges faced by rice consumers in a rice producing region in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Approach: Five hundred respondents were randomly selected and examined in 16 of the 69 residential quarters which constituted the 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the study region. Data analysis was carried out using simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages. Results: Research findings revealed that: (i) the level of consumption of Igbemo rice was high (ii) the product was characterized by contamination (iii) quantity made available in the markets has reduced largely as (iv) production was predominantly seasonal. Conclusion: Policy interventions were advocated based on research findings for improved food security in the region.