Effects of agroforestry on household food security as perceived by rural women farmers in Imo State, Nigeria
Date
2019-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
The study was designed to analyze the effects of agroforestry on household food security status as perceived by rural women farmers in Imo state Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describe the socioeconomic characteristics in the study area, identify agroforestry practices women farmers are involved in the study area, identify products which women farmers obtain from their agroforestry farms, determine reasons for practicing agroforestry as perceived by women farmers, determine the food security status of rural woman farmers in the study area, ascertain rural women farmers perceived effects of agroforestry on household food security status in the area, identify constraints to agroforestry practices in the study area as perceived by women farmers. Agroforestry farmers in Imo State formed the population for the study, and a sample of 270 rural women farmers were selected through Multi stage sampling techniques. Data for the study were collected using structured and validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as mean, frequency, score, percentage, Ordinary least square (OLS) and analysis of variance (Anova) were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that rural women had a mean age of 51years. About 77 % were married, with a mean household size of 6 persons. Average farm size and mean monthly income were 1.8 ha and ₦34,426 respectively. About 63.3 % were not members of social organizations and 34.4 % had farming as their major occupation. Majority (79.6%) were particularly involved in the practice of leaving few fruit bearing trees on farm land when clearing. The women were found to have positive food security status. The result also showed that the effect of agroforestry on household food security status of rural women farmers was high with a grand mean of 2.95; rural women farmers considered the following factors, viz: land security, lack of processing machineries, lack of control overland, high cost of farm inputs, unfavorable agricultural policies, lack of incentives, incidence of pest attack, high mortality of tree seedlings and high incidence of bush fire as the major constraints that affect agroforestry practice among rural women farmers. The hypothetical analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural women farmers and the perception of rural women farmers about the effect of agroforestry on food security in Imo state; rural women farmers do not differ significantly in their perceived effect of agroforestry on food security status in the three agricultural zones in Imo state. The study recommended that land being used for agroforestry practice should be secured through measures like perimeter fencing, local fencing with woods and bamboos and mobilizing youths to keep constant watch along the boundary lines so as to prevent encroachment as revealed from the study.
Description
This thesis is for the award of Master of Science (M.Sc) in Agricultural Extension
Keywords
Agroforestry, households, food security, rural women, farmers, Imo State, Nigeria, Department of Agricultural Extension
Citation
Nwozuzu, S. O. (2019). Effects of agroforestry on household food security as perceived by rural women farmers in Imo State, Nigeria [Unpublished Master'sThesis]. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria