Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Enhancing Food Utilization among Smallholder Farmers’ Households in Northern Nigeria

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are attracting global attention because of their unprecedented potential to bring about astounding improvement. The numerous advantages presented by ICTs can be employed towards the enhancement of rural households’ capabilities in attaining sufficient, safe and nutritious food.  This paper seeks to establish the potency of ICTs in enhancing the food utilization among smallholder households in Northern Nigeria.  Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 120 smallholders.  The results show that smallholders consider that food utilization was inadequate (80.9%); however, they acknowledged that ICTs could play a significant role in enhancing food utilization.  The findings further reveal that the following were ranked first to fifth by household heads: disseminating appropriate information about food crops (98.6%), improving purchasing power and market price (94.1%), enhancing decision-making regarding food (89.5%), improving food distribution practices (81.1%) and improving cultural and individual food choice (77.6). Keywords: ICTs, Food utilization, Smallholder farmer households, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/IKM/10-1-05 Publication date: January 31st 202

Effect of Smallholders Socio-Economic Characteristics on Farming Households’ Food Security in Northern Nigeria

Food security is indispensable prerequisite for the continued existence of mankind and his economic activities including adequate food production.  The study examined the effect of smallholder socio-economic characteristics on farming households’ food security in Northern Nigeria. Data for this study were obtained from 120 randomly selected farming households, using a structured questionnaire. The results revealed that 81.7% of the households considered themselves food insecure.  Furthermore, the majority of households have low incomes and low educational attainment which usually affects food security. There was also a significant negative association between food security and education as well as government policies. The analysis shows that low levels of education and government policies affected rural households. The paper therefore recommended that government and other development agencies should enhance food security among smallholders’ farmers and rural communities through farmer education, promoting labour-saving technologies and facilitating access to market information.  In the same vein, the paper infers that Nigeria needs to come up with results oriented food policy which for now it lacks.  The public policy makers must as a matter of urgency see food as an essential component of welfares and as such develop sufficient political will to achieve food increase in food production and eventually attain food security for all. Keywords: household food security; household food insecure; smallholder farmers; Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-16 Publication date: February 29th 202