Study of the Determinants of Household Food Security in Rural Communities in Gombe State

Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in North East Nigeria, and identifying its economic determinants in rural Gombe State provides an evidence base for targeted food security programme design. This study examined the determinants of household food security among rural households in Gombe, Kwami, and Shongom Local Government Areas, Gombe State. A cross-sectional survey of 300 rural households was conducted using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale to classify food security status. Data collected covered household income, farm size, livestock ownership, remittance receipts, access to credit, and social protection programme participation. Binary logistic regression identified the strongest predictors of food security status. Results showed that 64.3 percent of surveyed households were food insecure. Household income was the strongest predictor of food security (OR = 0.96 per N1,000 increase, p < 0.001). Livestock ownership significantly reduced food insecurity risk (OR = 0.43, p < 0.01). Participation in government social protection programmes was significantly associated with improved food security, though coverage was only 21.7 percent of eligible households. Distance to the nearest market above 5 kilometres was a significant negative predictor. Access to agricultural credit increased food security probability by 34.7 percent. The study concludes that low income, limited asset ownership, and restricted credit access are the primary drivers of food insecurity in Gombe State's rural communities. Recommendations include expanding social protection coverage, subsidising livestock acquisition, improving rural road infrastructure, and ensuring agricultural credit access through cooperative channels. Keywords: food security, HFIAS, rural households, Gombe State, agricultural economics