Gender Analysis on Food Consumption Patterns for Enhancing Food Security in Nigeria

Abstract

Traditionally, there has been a strict division of labor by gender in agriculture in Africa. Men and women participate in agriculture, the task may be gender specific but they are complementary and reciprocal. This article analyses different roles performed by men and women in food conservation strategies for enhancing food security in Nigeria. The study was conducted in two villages each in Kano and Katsina States of Nigeria. A total number of households interviewed in this survey was 282. Food Security Index (Zi) was used to measure the food security status of farming households. Harvard Analysis Framework was used to assess the distinctive gender roles in these communities. The result shows that male farmers were responsible for conducting most of the farming related activities in the study areas, women farmers were responsible for harvesting, pounding and threshing in addition to selecting the varieties. An interesting aspect of the study was the ability of the households to conserve the staple foods throughout the year, which was useful towards enhancing food security and periods of food availability and shortage were also assessed to find out the extent of food security among the household members. Staple foods that are the main sources of carbohydrates were readily available and consumed every day. Protein sources among the foods vary between plant and animal sources. Plant source was consumed every day, while the animal source was consumed occasionally, mostly once or twice a week. Any interventions that focus on promoting access and control of resources in these communities would be instrumental in increasing level of women’s productivity in agricultural and related activities