DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG URBAN FARMERS

Abstract

The increase in the prices of food has made it difficult particularly for the urban poor to meet their food requirements.  This has led some into urban farming.  The study examined the food security status of these urban farmers in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, and the problems they encounter.  The daily per capita calorie intake in the area is 2014 Kcal, which is lower than the FAO recommended amount of 2260 Kcal.  However, the food security, index is 0.89 and is considered high.  About 42% of the farmers are food secured while others are food insecure with a short fall index of 0.27.  Factors that increases the likelihood of being food secure are farm zise, family size, dependency ratio and age of household head.  Inadequate access to land, high costs of labour and inadequate capital are given as the common problems.  It is concluded that urban farming has potentials for increasing food security and the government should make policies that improves access to farm land particularly in peri-urban centres.  Improved access to credit with also ameliorate the problem of labour cost and encourage greater involvement in urban farming