Abstract
Rural road transportation problems had served as an impediment to the production of food as evidenced in increased cost of transportation and food in rural areas. This poses threat to sustainable food security and agricultural development. This study examined the rural road transportation challenges and food security in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Structured and self-administered questionnaires were purposively and randomly administered to one hundred and fifty (150) farmers in the selected villages in the study area. The purposive sampling is to ensure that only farmers who are member of each of the villages selected were sampled. The random technique is to ensure that individual farmer has equal rights to be sampled for the purpose of the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency and percentages and weighted mean was used to determine the efficiency level of the agency in charge of road development and maintenance in the area. The results indicate poor state of road transportation system in the area hindering agricultural production. Findings also revealed that the agency in charge of road maintenance in the area is not efficient. The study recommend construction of access roads, creation of storage facilities and small scale industries in the rural areas to absorb the farm produce and process it for further consumption for the purpose of creating job opportunities and reduce poverty level of the rural dwellers.
Key Words: Road Transportation, Food security, Agricultural development, Ikere-Ekiti
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