Perceived Benefits of Food Security among Rural Households in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State Nigeria

This study examines Perceived benefits of Food Security among rural households in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The study has three objectives. This study employed descriptive survey research design. The population for this study comprised of four hundred and twenty-two thousand, one hundred and fifty-nine (422,159) households in Makurdi Metropolis including males and female (NPR 2021). Simple random sampling techniques was used to select 2 wards each from the 5-metropolis ward making it 10 wards, and a sample size of 200 respondents from the 10 wards in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State was selected. Findings reveal perceived benefits of food security which include, food security fight hunger and poverty among rural households (3.31), food security entails adequate and sustainable food supply (3.39) and availability of adequate and nutritious food for human consumption (3.70). Findings also shows affordability of food as perceived among rural households in Makurdi Metropolis which include affordability of food fight malnutrition (3.38 ), affordability enhances food sufficiency (3.20 ), The challenges involved in achieving food security based on the perceived benefits among rural households in Makurdi include, natural disasters (flood, fire (3.75), poor infrastructure (road and transportation system)(3.07), poor food distribution systems(2.82).The paper concluded that rural households have access to good food, adequate, nutritious foods that are affordable except for the challenges highlighted which can also be tackled if proper measures are taken. It was recommended that there is a need for the rural households to be constantly enlightened by home scientists and extension agents on the benefits of safe, affordable and nutritious food, also rural households should synergize on means to enhance food security and stability.