Analysis on the factors affecting food security of small holder farmers in Mbarara District: a case study of Rubindi sub-county Households

Abstract

In Uganda, the prevalence of food insecurity is 12% corresponding to 2.6 million people, with the biggest number being children and then women. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people suffering from hunger is estimated to be 234 million, with Uganda contributing at least 41.1%. This study, therefore sought to find out the demographic and socio-economic factors that affect food security of small holder farmers in Mbarara district. Analysis was conducted on a sample of 365 household heads in Rubindi Sub-County. A binary logistic regression model was used to find out the demographic and socio-economic factors affecting food security. Overall, more than a half of the households (51.51%) who were food secure were self-employed. The main elements of accessibility associated with food security include; education university and tertiary (p=0.000 and 0.001, respectively) and they are 1.68 and 1.38 more likely to be food secure than those without any education, farming (mixed farming) (p=0.000) whereby households are 1.03 times more likely to be food secure than those rearing only animals. Conclusively, university and tertiary education, mixed type of farming, and households in the income category of above shillings 550,000 were associated with food security and there was relatively high food security amongst households. The study therefore, recommends provision of higher institutions to people in the sub-county and encouraging and supporting farmers with more crop and animal yields as a key measure of increasing food security in the households.