Abstract

The study assessed the effects of livelihood income diversification on food security status among farming households in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Five wards were purposively selected using multistage sampling procedures and eighty respondents were selected for the study. Data was obtained using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and logit regression model. The study revealed that the respondents had a mean age of 35 years. They were young and active, ready to contribute towards household food security in the study area. About 93.8% were male and 21.39% female with 95.0% married with mean household size of 15 persons. The respondents were educated with 69% ranging from primary, secondary and tertiary education. The mean farm size was 1ha with 75% acquired through inheritance and the mean annual income was ?2,074,999:00K. The livelihood income diversifications were Pottery 90.0%, hunting 60.0% and trading 57.5%. The food security status was 92.5% food secure while 7.5% food insecure. The analysis further revealed that the determinants of food security that were positive and significant at 5% include: educational level, annual income; farm size and livelihood income diversification. Thus, household size was significant but negatively at 5%. This means as the household size increases there will be decreases in household food security. The constraints to income diversification were cultural norms 91.25%, lack of credit facilities 88.75% and lack of market 78.75%. The respondents should form cooperative societies, and Government should establish extension stations in the rural areas were offered as recommendations.

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