Speaker
Description
Maureen, I. I.
Anambra State Polytechnic,Mgbakwu Awka,Anambra State
doodoovin@gmail.com
Track: Sustainability and the Future
ABSTRACT Food security is a critical concern globally, as it directly affect the well being and livelihoods of individuals and communities. At the household level, several factors influence the ability to achieve and maintain food security and for optimum development, survival, growth and good health of family members housewives help them with the knowledge of food in making wise budgets for food items, which in turn help them meet the food needs of family Therefore this study investigated the strategies used by housewives in meeting the food needs of families in Ughelli, Delta State. A cross sectional study was adopted using multi stage sampling technique to select 345 housewives among the communities that make up the L.G.A. A well structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect information on socio economic characteristic, foods available in the study area, food consumption pattern of family, strategies used by housewives in meeting the food needs of families. Data were analysed using Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, charts and Mean). The result showed that Majority (67.7%) of them are middle age and 4.0% are older adults .Only 19.0% of them earn aboveN100,000,94.7% are married while only 1.3% are widow. Majority (55.7%) has a family size of 4-6.Major meals consumed by families in Ughelli community Include Ukodo, Irhoboto, Pepper Soup, Banga Soup, Owho Soup, Rice, Starch, Garri, Tapioca, Yam, Cocoyam, Beans, Plantain Among Others. Banga soup has the highest mean of 3.73 while Cocoyam has the least mean of 3.27 food consumption pattern of family shows Majority (75.7%) of them eat thrice a day only 0.7% of them only eat once a day. In the last 30 days, 53.7% of them were hungry because of no food and the remaining 43.3% never suffer hunger. Strategies employed by housewives in meeting the food needs of family members in Ughelli include, Cultivating Home Gardens, Budgeting Family Income, Buying Food In Season, Proper Preservation Of Food Items, Sales Of Farm Produce, Proper Processing Of Food Items, Multiple Source Of Income And Bulk Purchasing. Budgeting Family Income Strategy Has The Highest Mean Of 3.35, Followed By Proper Preservation Of Food Items (3.31), And Then Cultivating Home Garden Of 3.29. Proper Processing Of Food Items Strategy Has The Lowest Mean Of 3.20. The result of the findings showed that despite the high involvement of housewives in meeting food needs, a large percentage of the households were food insecure. A very low percentage of the households had enough to eat and to store also low intake level of vegetables and fruits was observed. This study recommended that experts involved in nutrition programs and research collaborate with experts in promotion of income, production-focused inputs, labor-saving technology, microfinance, social networks, and human capital. Through such collaboration, nutritionists could add nutrition components to these other programs and evaluate the benefits to family nutrition including strategies to improve access to food, promote family care and health, and gain access to the resources needed to accomplish these.