Assessment of food security status of small ruminant producing households in Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the food security status of small ruminants (sheep & goat)  producing households in Ogun State. A total of 120 small ruminant producing households were selected through a multistage sampling procedure from Ilaro Agricultural Development Zone (ADP) in Ogun State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Logit regression model. Result showed small ruminant production is male dominated, with an average age of 47 years and average household size of 5 persons. 29.2% of the household head had no formal education. 47.5%, 13.3% and 39.2% of the farmers reared goats only, sheep only and both sheep and goats, respectively. OLS result indicated that small ruminant production were influenced by gender (p<0.01), age (p<0.01), credit access (p<0.1), off- farm income (p<0.05), management system (p<0.05), and prevalence of diseases outbreak (p<0.01). Analysis of food security status revealed that food security incidence, gap and severity were 0.62, 0.278 and 0.07 respectively. Logit regression result showed that the relevant and significant factors that determined household's food security status were gender, household size, credit access, off-farm activities and herd size. It is concluded from the study that, majority of the farmers were living below the food security line and that small ruminant production contributes positively to household food security status. The study recommended policy intervention that provides credit support, disease prevention and control mechanism for small ruminant farmers.