Food Security Status and Coping Strategies of Rural Households in Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Food insecurity continues to undermine nutritional health and livelihoods in rural farming communities across Nigeria. This study examines the food security status and household coping strategies among rural families in Gboko and Makurdi local government areas of Benue State, North Central Nigeria. Benue State, widely described as the food basket of the nation, paradoxically records significant levels of household food insecurity, particularly during lean agricultural seasons. A descriptive cross-sectional approach was employed, with 300 households selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and a structured questionnaire capturing household demographics, agricultural activity, income sources, and dietary habits. Focus group discussions supplemented quantitative data to explore coping behaviours such as meal skipping, portion reduction, and reliance on wild foods. Preliminary findings suggest that seasonal variability, post-harvest losses, and displacement from farmer-herder conflicts significantly exacerbate food insecurity in the region. Households headed by women reported greater vulnerability. The study provides community-level evidence to support targeted food security interventions and social protection programming in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: food security, coping strategies, rural households, Benue State, food insecurity.