Rural Insecurity and Agricultural Output: Evaluating the Effects of Insecurity on Food Availability in Giwa, Birnin-Gwari and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State

Abstract

This study examined the effects of rural insecurity on food availability in Giwa, Birnin-Gwari, and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Rural insecurity in northern Nigeria has intensified in recent years through armed banditry, kidnapping, farmer–herder conflicts, cattle rustling, and communal violence, thereby posing serious threats to agricultural sustainability, rural livelihoods, and household food security. The study specifically investigated how persistent insecurity affects food availability through disruptions in crop production, livestock production, transportation systems, agricultural markets, and local food supply chains within the selected local government areas. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were obtained through the administration of 451 structured questionnaires to farmers and pastoralists across the study areas, while qualitative data were generated through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 15 key informants comprising farmers, pastoralists, community leaders, agricultural extension officers, and local security stakeholders. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis, while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that insecurity exerts a statistically significant negative effect on food availability in the study areas (p < 0.05). The regression analysis indicated that insecurity accounted for approximately 47.6% of the variation in food production and food availability within the affected communities. The study further revealed that violent attacks, fear of abduction, destruction of farmlands, displacement of farming households, disruption of rural markets, and restricted movement of agricultural produce have significantly reduced local food supply and increased food prices. Qualitative findings also showed that insecurity has weakened household purchasing power, disrupted food distribution networks, intensified hunger, and increased vulnerability among rural households. The study concluded that persistent rural insecurity constitutes a major threat to food availability and sustainable rural livelihoods in Giwa, Birnin-Gwari, and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. The study therefore recommends the strengthening of rural security architecture, rehabilitation of rural roads and markets, provision of targeted agricultural and food support programmes, expansion of community-based food storage systems, and implementation of conflict resolution mechanisms to improve food availability and strengthen rural resilience.