Gender analysis of impact of armed banditry on agricultural productivity and household food insecurity of smallholder farmers in Nigeria: evidence from Nigeria panel data

The relationship between food security, agricultural productivity and violent conflict has been a debate among policy makers and researchers. This study will analyze the gender disaggregated impact of armed banditry on agricultural productivity and household food security of smallholder farmers, using Nigeria GHS Survey Panel data sets of 2011/2012, 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2018/2019.Data on incidences of armed banditry will be drawn from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Database (ACLED). To estimate the impact of armed banditry on households' food insecurity and agricultural productivity the study will apply the Difference-in-Difference. Food security will be captured using the Rasch Model to compute FIES-based indicator. Agricultural productivity will be proxied by total crop production, net agricultural income and agricultural land use. We will construct the indicators at individual and household level for intra-household heterogeneity analysis. Through the disaggregation of gender impacts, this study will inform gender policy responses amidst violent conflicts.