Gender Differentials in Rural Households’ Food Security Coping Strategies in South-WesternNigeria

Abstract:
The study was carried out to investigate gender differences in rural households’ food security coping strategies in South-Western Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used in selecting 252 respondents utilized for the study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from them. The result shows that the females were older than the male with a mean age of 50 and 45 years respectively. Most of the male respondents were married as against the females. There were more divorced/separated, widowed and cohabiting women than men. The male respondents have larger household sizes than the females. Although a higher proportion of both genders were literate, the literacy level of the male gender was higher than that of the females. While most of the respondents were farmers, the study shows heterogeneity of occupation which contradicts the assumptions of the rural people as a homogeneous group. The male households were more food secure than the female households. Though the consumption of less expensive food was ranked first among both genders, there are wide variations in the food security coping strategies utilized. Some top coping strategies utilized by the male gender includes rationing money had to buy prepared food and migration to cities and towns while those of the female gender include occupation diversification/ multiple jobs, purchase of food on credit and the sale of assets such as land and jewelries. The female genders were more hit by food insecurity than their male counterparts. The study recommends the recognition of heterogeneous marital status of the female gender and occupational diversity in food security interventions. It is germane to intensify education of rural dwellers on family planning. Strategic policies on food security in Nigeria should be based on gender.

 Key words:Adoption, Coping strategies, Distinction, Food security, Gender