Challenges and Constraints Limited the Contributions of Female Farmers to Household Food Security —A Study of Female Farmers in Northern Kordofan

The study examined the challenges and constraints faced by female farmers in Northern Kordofan to contribute to household food security in 2017. The random sampling technique was applied to collect data from 309 rural households through face-to-face interview. Results demonstrate that women play a major role in producing and providing food for their households, while men are more likely to migrate seasonally and even permanently. 69.2% of female farmers interviewed depended mainly on farming activities and animal husbandry production to secure food for their household while 30.8 practiced extra non-farm activities to generate income to buy food to supplement the farming production. The study indicated food shortage did not occur for 16.2% of households of female farmers interviewed 67.6% of them food shortage occurred for their households on a sesonal basis and food shortage occurred annually for the 32.3% of the households of female farmers Female farmers interviewed challenged by constraints to have effective contribution to household food security 74.1%of female farmers have no access to credit facilities and 88% had no access to extension 37.2% got problems of agricultural labours98.4% of female farmers consider the small size of land is constraint to secure food fort the households. 50.8% of female farmers faced difficulties obtaining inputs inputs (seeds and fertilizers). The study concluded that the main challenge women face as food producers and providers a lack of access to the full package of improved production methods. The study recommended Breaking down gender-specific barriers Agriculture ministries should target gender-based barriers that restrict women’s access to key farm inputs.Subject AreasSociology