FOOD SECURITY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN EKET AND ONNA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA. 1989-2010

Abstract

This study examines the agricultural projects initiated by AKADEP in its effort at achieving food security in the two local government areas under study. It takes a close look at its objectives, goals, achievements and challenges and assesses the problems that have militated against the successful realization of AKADEP projects 24 years after its inception. The study posits that women who make up over 75 percent of the farmers in these communities have been largely ignored by policy makers. Limited access to land, proliferation of very small land holdings along with the traditional land tenure system (leaving large portions of arable land fallow for several years) have conspired to negate meaningful agricultural development. Besides, poor entrepreneurial skills of 90 percent of the farmers interviewed, poor funding of agricultural development projects, incoherent government policies, insincerity on the part of government at all levels and a clear distrust of government intentions by farmers all threaten food security in these rural areas