Abstract: The study assessed the effect of increase in food prices resulting from boarder closure, rural banditry and economic downturn on household’s food security in kebbi state, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select the sample for the study. Data for the research were obtained from sixty (60) respondents who were mainly affected by the scourge of rising food prices in the state. Sixty household heads were systematically selected and interviewed with the aid of structured questionnaires. The results showed that 47% of the respondents were married, while 35% were single. It was also indicated that greater percentage of the respondents (18%) had only primary education which shows lack of knowledge and skills for improved farming practices to avert the scourge of rising food prices. More than half (53%) of the participants were unemployed which indicated that that they received salary thus making them more vulnerable and more impactful to the effect of increase in food prices. More than half (53%) of the participants earned a household income ranging from1000–20, 000 per month which may not be enough to cater for the balanced nutritional needs of the households making them undernourished. Majority of the respondents (48%) described rising food prices as resulting from boarder closure”, while 47% said increase in food prices resulted from banditry activities, While 12% regarded it as arising from economic downturn of the country which may mean a forceful/deliberate increase in food prices as a result of removal of subsidy and skyrocated dollar increase. The various coping strategies adopted by the households to mitigate their food insecurity indicated that (45.9%) changed their food pattern to mitigate their food insecurity, with 32.6% resorted to obtaining loans for food from various financial source, 55.0% relied on help from relatives/friends. It is concluded that Increase in food prices negatively affected participants in kebbi state because households were forced to change their eating or dietary patterns. In addition, spending half of their income on food restricted them from affording other basic necessities, such as education and health. Poor-quality food has poor nutritive value that is vital for the well-being of many communities in rural areas, and inferior products make it impossible for many households to meet their daily recommended intake of nutrients. Rural farming communities need to be made aware of the need for family planning to be able to reduce their family sizes in order to sustain their families, specifically in difficult times, such as that of the ongoing increase in food prices, Farmers should be encouraged to increase their household’s income sources to promote sustainable crop and livestock management practices.
Keywords: Effect, Increase in Food Prices, Boarder Closure, Rural Banditry, Economic Downturn, Households Food Security, Kebbi State