Volume 59, Issue 332, August 2023

Impact of farmers' internal displacement on household food security in Benue State, Nigeria

Uza Dooshima¹, Alamveabee Effraim Idyorough², Confort Ugbem-Onah³, Solomon Chimela Nwafor^4♦

¹Centre for Food Technology and Research, Benue State University Makurd, Nigeria
²Department of Sociology, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
³Department of Sociology, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria
⁴Farming Systems Research and Extension, National Root Crop Research Institute, PMB 7006, Umudike, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Farming Systems Research and Extension, National Root Crop Research Institute, PMB 7006, Umudike, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

In summary, the study focused on the impact of internal displacement on household food security among farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. The study employed a social survey design, with 429 respondents selected using cluster sampling, random sampling, and purposive sampling. The findings indicated that a significant proportion of internally displaced farmers were in the age group of 56 to 65, with a majority of them being female and having completed only elementary education. The study also highlighted the farming experience and land sizes of the respondents. The results demonstrated that internal displacement had negative effects on food security, including a reduction in food production, acute food shortages, increased food prices, and restricted access to safe food. Furthermore, the correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between the displacement of rural crop farmers and household food insecurity. However, the correlation was not statistically significant, suggesting that other factors may also influence household food insecurity. In conclusion, the study emphasized the catastrophic impact of internal displacement on internally displaced persons, leading to significant changes in family dynamics and identities. The findings highlight the urgent need for measures to address internal displacement, mitigate its effects on food security, and provide support to affected farmers and households in Benue State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Internal Displacement, Food security, Rural farmers, Impact

Discovery, 2023, 59, e101d1276

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Published: August 2023