Effects of social capital on food security of farming households in Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effects of social capital on household food security among farmers in Odeda LGA of Ogun state, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to obtain data from 116 farming households in the study area in 2010. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Probit model. The food security line was N 2,155.74 per month per adult equivalent. Based on this, 45% of the total sampled households were food secure while 55% were food insecure. Food secure households exceeded the calorie requirements by average of 19% while food insecure households fell short of calorie requirements by average of 28%. A unit increase in social capital (p<0.01) increases the probability of household to be food secure by 0.0991 while a unit increase in household size (p<0.01) and level of education of household head (p<0.01) decreases the probability of household to be food secure by 0.4095 and 0.1367 respectively. Participation in a socio- economic group is motivated by perceived benefits such as access to material incentives and capacity building opportunities available to members as well as mutual trust among members. Dimensions of cognitive social capital found among respondents revealed that most households (89.7%) had people to assist with childcare in emergencies and 96.6% had at least one close friend who could be relied on in cases of emergency. Consistent with apriori expectation, social capital contributes to household food security. Social capital was truly exogenous to household food security with no reverse causality.