Household Food Security Status of Farming Families in Zamfara State

Food security remains a critical concern in Zamfara State, in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone, where a combination of insecurity, erratic rainfall, and limited agricultural investment has placed significant pressure on rural household food availability and access. Understanding the food security status of farming families is essential for designing effective social protection and agricultural development policies. This study assesses the food security status of farming households in Zamfara State using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale as the primary measurement tool. A sample of 160 farming households was selected using a multi-stage sampling approach across four local government areas. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected alongside food security indicators. Descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results indicate that 58 percent of sampled households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, with the lean season between June and August identified as the period of greatest vulnerability. Farm income, household size, and off-farm employment were the strongest predictors of food security status. Households with more than five dependants and no off-farm income source had the highest probability of food insecurity. Crop diversification was positively associated with improved household food access. The study recommends targeted food assistance programmes during lean seasons and the promotion of early-maturing crop varieties to reduce the hunger gap among farming households in Zamfara State. Keywords: food security, farming households, Zamfara State, hunger gap, household income