Investigation of Gender and Food Security Among Rural Households in Benue State

Food security at the household level in sub-Saharan Africa is deeply gendered, with women's control over food production, income, and preparation resources critically mediating household nutritional outcomes. This study investigates the gender dimensions of food security among rural households in Benue State, the so-called food basket of Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was adopted, with 260 rural women from Gboko, Makurdi, and Ushongo Local Government Areas completing structured questionnaires incorporating the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Data were analysed using binary logistic regression, descriptive statistics, and chi-square tests. Findings reveal that households where women have decision-making control over food income demonstrate significantly higher food security scores than male-controlled households. Female-headed households, despite lower average incomes, achieve comparable food security outcomes to male-headed households in the sample, attributed to women's tendency to prioritise food expenditure. Land insecurity and limited access to agricultural inputs reduce women's farming productivity and food availability. Seasonal food insecurity is most acute among households with female members who have no independent income source. Recommendations include women-targeted agricultural input support, community grain storage cooperatives, and strengthened women's land tenure security. This research enriches gender and food security literature in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: gender, food security, rural households, Benue State, women's agency