Assessment of food security situation among smallholder farmers in Aliero, Kebbi State

Agricultural sector serves as the major source of livelihood among the smallholder farmers in Nigeria, but it suffers a serious neglect in the past during the era of oil boom, but with the recent attention given to agricultural sector by various tiers of governments in the country, the assessment of livelihood outcomes like food security becomes necessary. This study therefore assessed the food security status of smallholder farmers living in Aliero local government of Kebbi state. A number of 100 smallholder farmers were selected and issued with well-structured questionnaire, and data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The result of food security status using USDA food security levels of food secured or unsecured revealed that 68% of the population being food secured. It further shows that the average mean for food availability (3.29); food accessibility (3.32); food utilization (3.14) and food stability (3.33) indi cates majority of the respondents’ have moderate food security level. This study recommends facilitation of increased food production policies and strategies that will enhance more sustainable food production and security in the research area.