INTERRELATION OF GENDER AND AGEING ON THE FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the interrelation of gender and age on the food security status of rural households in Ekiti state. This study made use of interview schedules to elicit information from the respondents. One hundred and twenty respondents were sampled through a multistage sampling procedure. In the first stage, three local governments were purposively selected to represent the sixteen local government areas in the state. These local governments were selected because they are among the rural areas in the state i.e. areas that are predominantly agrarian. The local governments are Oye, Ido-osi and Irepodun/ifelodun. In the second stage, four communities were selected in each of the three local government areas making a total of twelve communities. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age of respondents was 48 years and 53.3% were male, 78.3% were married,55.9% had secondary education and above while 67.5% had 1-4 children living with them. Also, 64.2% of respondents are food secured, food secured young households accounts for 47.5%, food secured old households accounts for 30%, and food insecure young households’ accounts for 20% and food insecure old households are 2.5%. Consumption patterns of households in the morning shows that 28.5% of respondents consumed rice in the morning while 14.2% consumes bread and tea in the morning, yam and egg accounts for 14.2%, 30% 0f respondents consumes other types of food in the morning. Twenty six point nine percent of respondents do not consume anything in the morning. These percentages of respondents are those who do not eat food before going to church on Sunday. Consumption patterns of households in the afternoon shows that 25% of respondents eats Eba in the afternoon, 10% and 34.5% of respondents eats beans and garri, and garri respectively in the afternoon. Also, 12.5% of respondents do not eat in the afternoon while 18% of respondents eat other types of food in the afternoon. Consumption patterns of households in the evening shows that 74% of the household eats pounded yam in the evening, 12% eats Rice in the evening while those that eats other types of food are 14%. Constraints in achieving food security indicated by the respondents were access to credits (17.5%), access to land (22.5%), access to inputs (14.2%), inadequate extension officers (41.6%). Coping