FAMILY FARMING: A VITAL STRATEGY TO BATTLE HUNGER THREATS AND INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Family farming is an agricultural system managed and operated by a family to produce food and rely on family labour to improve the quality of life by promoting dignity, equity, and reducing hunger and poverty. The study looked at family farming as a critical technique for combating hunger and increasing food insecurity in Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to: determine types of family farming practiced, identify crops that are planted and harvested by farming family and investigate the impact of family farming on their livelihood. The study's hypothesis was that family farming did not make a major contribution to family food supply. The study used a sample size of 350 respondents; these were selected through multistage sampling procedure. Data were gathered with questionnaires and were analyzed with means, percentages, and frequencies. The findings revealed that respondents increased their home gardening skills in order to combat hunger and enhance food supply for their households, as well as produce a variety of crops. Maize (74.4%) was the most popular crop, followed by cassava (68%), pumpkin (62.9%), medicinal herbs (60%), and yam (58.3%). The hypothesis was tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and the result revealed favorable and significant association between family farming and family food supply. According to the study, family farming not only increases the family's food supply but also its revenue. It is so critical to encourage individuals to develop empty plots within and adjacent to their homes for family farming.