Effect of Road Infrastructure on Food Sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study was designed to assess the effect of road infrastructure on food Sovereignty in Akwa lbom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: ascertain the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; identify the food sovereignty in the study area and ascertain the effect of road infrastructure on food sovereignty in the study area. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised all rural farming households in Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted multi-stage and simple random sampling techniques. Three blocks were selected from each of the three Agricultural Zones in the state. Three cells were randomly selected from each of the blocks sampled, which gave a total of twenty-seven (27) cells. A total of 450 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected with the aid of a semi structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using percentages, means and standard deviation as well as ranking. The results of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents showed that 58.90% of the respondents were males (265), while 41.10% of them were females (185). A good number of the respondents, 53.60%, were married (241), while 24.20%were single (109). Also, the results showed that 19.60% of the respondents had no formal education (88), while 30.70% attained secondary level of education (134), and about 33.70% of the respondents had tertiary level of education (152). The socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents also indicated that 40.0% of the respondents had farm size ranging from 1-2 hectares, while 5.80% had farm size of 5 hectares and above. A good number of the respondents had access to credit (59.60%), while a small proportion (40.40%) had no credit facilities. The study revealed that 21.30% of the respondents had income ranging from N351,000 to N450,000, less than one US$ while a small proportion of the famers (8.90%) had income of about N251,000 to N350,000 only from farming activities. The main sources of food sovereignty of the people were crop farming and livestock production, though some were involved in trading and artisanal activities. The study noted that road projects have reduced accident (x"=2.75), increased farmers’ income (x"=3.20), increased trading and shopping activities (x" =2.62), and reduced floods (x" =2.64) among others. It was also concluded that road projects have positive effects of food sovereignty although some of the abandoned projects have caused some hardship and environmental challenges. The study recommended the completion of all abandoned road projects carried out in rural Akwa Ibom State in particular, and Nigeria in general. The study, however, concluded that in Akwa Ibom State, rural road projects have brought the much needed relief from accidents, wastage, spoilage, and food sovereignty to many hitherto isolated rural communities.