EFFECT OF ACCESS TO ICT ON FOOD INSECURITY AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA

The task of fighting food insecurity and poverty remains a moving target for policy makers in Nigeria. The fact that agriculture employs 70 percent of the active labour force and the country is food insecure shows there is more to be desired. However, little is known about food insecurity and Information Communication Technology (ICT) among farmers in Nigeria using a national representative data. Therefore, this study examined the effect of ICT on food insecurity among farming households in Nigeria. The General Household Survey Panel dataset (GHS-Panel) collected by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2013 was used for this study. Data from a total of 2,240 farming households were analysed. The study adopted Foster, Greer and Thorbecke Methodology (FGT), Descriptive statistical tools and Probit regression model for the analysis of relevant data. This study found 43 percent of farming households were food insecure. The average age of household heads was 52 years with fairly large household size of 7. The most commonly used ICT devices are radio, television and mobile phones. Again, households that have access to ICT were found to be less food insecure. The probit regression analysis showed household size, location (rural or urban), zone of residence (North Central, North East, North West and South West), distance to market, marital status, access to radio, access to television and access to mobile phones were the determinants of food insecurity among farming households in Nigeria. This study therefore recommended, increased campaigns on family planning among farming households by government and multilateral organisations. Also, government and organised private sector should provide adult literacy training programs for farmers to improve their literacy skills and use of ICT. Finally, government should subsidize food prices for food insecure farming households especially those in rural Nigeria.