Determinants Of Protein Consumption Among Farming Households In Otukpo Local Government Area Of Benue State, Nigeria

The study examined the determinants of protein consumption among farming households in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. A total of 100 respondents were selected. Primary data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the study. The results of the socio-economic characteristics of respondent farming households revealed that most of the respondents were within the age range of 40 to 49 years, with the mean age of 44 years. Majority of the respondents were Christians, females and married, had a mean household size of 5 persons, no formal education, and had a mean monthly income of N200000. The results of the availability and consumption of protein food items among farming households in the study area revealed that majority of the respondents sourced their protein food items, which was fairly available from the market, spent between N 2000 and N 4000 on protein food items monthly, consumed one protein meal per day, indicated that protein foods were fairly affordable, consumed both animal and plant proteins, and believed that adults should consume more protein in the area. The results of the multiple regression analysis of the determinants of protein consumption showed that Monthly Income, Educational Level, Household Size and protein affordability were the significant factors that influenced household expenditure on protein consumption (N) per month in the study area. The results of the constraints to protein consumption in the study area revealed that unavailability/insufficiency of protein – rich foods, which might be due to the distance to the source, and high cost of raising protein rich – crops/animals were the major problems that affected protein consumption in the study area. The study therefore recommends that respondents should diversify their means of generating income to increase their income, engage in planting legumes and rearing of livestock to increase their production of protein food source, there should be increase their formal education which should improve the protein intake, Government should put in place a pricing policy to bring down prices of protein food for affordability, and family planning progamme should be emphasized to the households in order to reduce the large household size prevalent in the study area.