ECONOMICS IMPLICATIONS OF INSECURITY ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN DELTA STATE NIGERIA

The objective was to examine the effect of insecurity on food production in Delta State, Nigeria. The studied data were collected using structured questionnaire for 120 respondents. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution and percentage and Chi square was used to decide the statistical relationship between insecurity and food production and distribution. The results for this study showed that the respondents age range of was 41-50 years having secondary school level of education and mostly married female farmers engaging in production of food. Most respondents had no communication with extension agents and have mean farm size of 1.8 hectares implying that bulk of the farmers were smallholder farmer with farming experience above 13 years. The result revealed that planting upland area to avoid flood ranked highest as a remedy to insecurity. The mean (3.03) result show that the level of insecurity was very severe. There were lack of means of transport due to restrictions on movement as a result of insecurity The result of the chi square analysis indicates that there was a significant (p<0.05) relationship between insecurity and food production and distribution which revealed that insecurity have devastating impact on food production and distribution. The study recommends that extension agent administrators and the government should team up to produce and promote a good attitude toward food production and distribution. Future researchers are recommended to delve deeper on the effect of insecurity on food production and distribution.