The Role of Livestock Production on Food Security in Sudan : Rural White Nile State

Food security status is determined by the combination of aggregate food availability, household food access and utilization. In Sudan, given climate extremes and insecurity, food availability is a crucial component of household food security status. Communities that rely on raising livestock are most vulnerable to hunger when drought or other disaster strikes. The general objective of this study was to assess the role of livestock production on food security in the White Nile State. Specifically it aims to identify the main factors that may be responsible for food insecurity among livestock producers. It also attempts to identify the livestock conditions in the region. The study was depends on primary data collected during 2009/2010. Statistical tools of data analysis are implemented focusing on correlation analysis and food security indicators. The SPSS (1983) and Excel software programs are used for data analysis. The study results show that majority of the surveyed animal producers are illiterate, and landless. It also indicates that there was instability in food security using the coefficient of variation of producers’ income (CV) as a proxy for food consumption. There was positive correlation between education level, food availability and accessibility. Furthermore, the food utilization was significantly affected by family size and number of males in the households and it is significantly affected by milk production and animal selling in the region