Effects of Agricultural Commercialization in Food Insecurity Transition among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Ekiti-State, Nigeria.

This study examined the effects of agricultural commercialization on food insecurity transition among smallholder rice farmers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. The study employed a multi-stage sampling procedure to select the sample. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data during the on- and off-seasons period in the study area. While descriptive statistics was employed to analyse respondents' socioeconomic variables, Transition Matrix Box and Ordered Probity Regression models were used to analyses food insecurity transition among the smallholder farmers. Result of data analysis showed that 64% of the respondents were commercial rice farmers while others were subsistence rice farmers. The result further revealed respondents that engaged in commercial agriculture were food secured during both surveys unlike their subsistence counterparts who were only food secure during first survey period (on-season). Also, the transition matrix revealed a scenario whereby more of commercial rice farming households are food secure in both surveys and having more of their households exited food insecurity than their subsistence counterparts. Furthermore, the results of the Ordered probity Regression revealed that vulnerability status, asset value, years of formal education, adult equivalence, livestock, agricultural commercialization, incidence of crop loss, membership of agricultural cooperatives, extension contact and challenge of Fulani herdsmen were significant factors influencing respondents' food insecurity transition regardless of their commercialization status. Therefore, the study recommends that government and other stakeholders should formulate relevant policies that have bearings on the key drivers in order to address all forms of food insecurity in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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