ABSTRACT
The study examined the Analysis of labor use and food security among rural maize farmers in odedelga, ogun state.
More specifically, the study sought to assess the labor use and food security among farmers.
The study consist of all farmers in Odeda Local government area, Ogun state, a two -Stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of the respondents’ maize crop farmers within the study area, twenty-five maize farmers was randomly selected from each of the villages which one hundred and twenty (120) maize crop farmers gave complete information that was used for the final analysis.
A well- developed questionnaire was designed to elicit information from the respondents, the data collected were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, food security index and the probit regression model.
Result from the study indicated that maize farmers in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State make use of hired and family labour in varied proportion. Also the usage of more family labour tend to increase rural maize farming households’ ability to be more food secure while usage of more hired labour tend to decrease rural maize farming households’ ability to be food secure.
Base on this, the study advised that credit facilities should be made available and accessible to the farming households, Government and Non-Governmental Organizations should encourage youths to go into farming so as to reduce pressure on white-collar jobs, and finally awareness creation on family planning should be made because it will go a long way in reducing rural farming household size since there is tendency of being food insecure with large household size.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Food is any nourishing substance that is eaten, drunk, or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc. It is an indispensable perquisite for the survival of mankind and its economic activities including food production. For food security to exist at the national, regional and local levels, food must be available accessible and properly utilized. It is a basic necessity of life. Food is regarded as the basic means of sustenance, and an adequate food intake in terms of quantity and quality, is a key, for healthy and productive life (FAO, 2005). It is perhaps the most important commodity linking rural producers and urban consumers (Rengasamy et al. 2003). Food accounts for a substantial part of the typical Nigerian household budget. Various foods serve as important vehicles for taking nutrients into the body and bringing about a healthy state, hence the need for taken, there classes, of essential nutrients, which must be combined in appropriate proportion to ensure an adequate food intake. These include: carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oil, vitamins and minerals (Omonona, Agoi and Adetokunbo, 2007). The need for food is topmost in the hierarchy of needs as it is essential for healthy living. Thus, achievement of food security is important in any given country