Food Security and Resource Allocation among Farming Households in North Central Nigeria

The study determined the food security status of farming households as well as an optimal farm plan that can enhance the food security status of farming households in Nasarawa State. Data was collected from 180 farming households using random sampling. A food security line and linear programming model were used for data analysis. Majority of the farming households (58.9%) were food insecure. The optimal farm plan recommends the production of Cassava, Maize/Cowpea, and Benniseed and Groundnut/Yam enterprises at 0.64, 0.34, 0.35 and 0.22 ha respectively to yield a net return of 141692.89 Naira. The major food security crops were identified to be Maize, Cassava and Yam. It was concluded that an effective allocation of resources can enhance the food security status of farming households. The study recommends the encouragement of the production of Cassava, Yam and Maize and the introduction of participatory family planning techniques among the food insecure households.