Determinants of Food Insecurity among Maize Farming Households in the Southern Region of Mali

Food insecurity is one of the most serious challenges facing developing countries all over the world. In Mali, it has been revealed that many regions suffer from food insecurity including the Southern region which is known as the most valuable cereal production area. In this region, maize is one of the main crops produced and the most commonly eaten food that provides necessary calories to farmers. The present study analysed the determinants of food insecurity among maize farming households using primary data from Southern region of Mali. We employed the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among maize farming households. Probit Regression Model (PM) was used to investigate the determinants of food insecurity. Using HFIAS, the majority of the farming households were found food insecure. These included households ranged from mildly (41%), moderately (12%), and severely (7%) food insecure groups. Food secure households were over 40%. Using part of saving to buy food, borrowing of money, and relying on less preferred less expensive food were the major coping strategies used by farming households’ heads. Focusing on the factors with high significant influence, evidence from the PM showed that maize yield, access to extension services, and off-farm employment exerted negative effects on farming households’ food insecurity status whilst household size exerted a positive effect. We recommend that government should try to put in place facilities and infrastructures bringing closer extension services to farmers to increase their access to information related to agriculture and by this way improve their productivity for food security. Also, farmers should be strongly encouraged to diversify their source of income for food purchases. Furthermore, it is recommended to promote small family size to reduce farming households’ food insecurity in Mali in general and the Southern region in particular.