Food insecurity is a major challenge for Niger and for many African countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting household food security in Niger. Based on survey data covering 500 households, drought, high food prices, poverty, soil infertility, disease and insect attacks are reported by the respondents to be the main causes of food insecurity. The empirical results from logistic regression revealed that the gender of the head of household, diseases and pests, labor supply, flooding, poverty, access to market, the distance away from the main road and food aid are significant factors influencing the odds ratio of a household having enough daily rations. Another important finding is that female headed households are more vulnerable to food insecurity compared to male headed households. The findings of this study provide evidence that food insecurity continues to affect the Nigerien population.

Despite significant efforts by the Nigerien government and several international organizations, such as the World Food Program (WFP) and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), food insecurity continues to affect a substantial portion of the Nigerien population. This study aims to identify the causes of food insecurity and examine the coping strategies adopted by households to mitigate hunger. A structured survey was conducted in 15 villages in the Kollo region of Niger, where household heads were randomly selected for interviews. A total of 500 households participated. Using the Multinomial Probit model, the study explores factors influencing households' choices of coping strategies, hypothesizing that these behaviors are shaped by socio-economic and demographic characteristics. The results reveal that food insecurity is driven by factors such as drought, soil infertility, lack of agricultural inputs, crop pests and diseases, and limited financial resources. In response, households employ strategies such as selling livestock, migrating in search of better opportunities, consuming less preferred foods, and resorting to unusual borrowing. The study concludes that enhancing the sustainability of agricultural production through the promotion of climate-smart agricultural technologies is crucial for improving food security and strengthening household resilience to future challenges.