Traditional Agricultural Practices and Household Food Security: Evidence from Farming Households in Akure South, Ondo State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the role of traditional agricultural practices in household food security among farming households in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 farming households using a multistage sampling technique and structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the household food expenditure approach, and a binary logit regression model. The findings revealed that 79.2% of households were food secure, while 20.8% were food insecure. Farming households were predominantly male-headed, with a mean age of 41 years and an average farming experience of 17 years. Common traditional practices included mixed cropping, crop rotation, shifting cultivation, bush fallowing, and traditional irrigation. Regression results indicated that household size, years of farming experience, and shifting cultivation had a significant (p < 0.05) influence on household food security. Major constraints included limited government support, inadequate access to farm machinery, high cost of farm inputs, limited access to credit, land constraints, and climate-related challenges. The study concludes that traditional agricultural practices play a significant role in enhancing household food security. Strengthened policy support, income diversification, access to credit, and targeted capacity-building initiatives are recommended to sustain food-secure outcomes among farming households.