Food Security in Nigeria: An Examination of Food Availability and Accessibility in Nigeria

Authors: Chimaobi Valentine Okolo, Chizoba Obidigbo

Abstract:

As a basic physiology need, threat to sufficient food production is threat to human survival. Food security has been an issue that has gained global concern. This paper looks at the food security in Nigeria by assessing the availability of food and accessibility of the available food. The paper employed multiple linear regression technique and graphic trends of growth rates of relevant variables to show the situation of food security in Nigeria. Results of the tests revealed that population growth rate was higher than the growth rate of food availability in Nigeria for the earlier period of the study. Commercial bank credit to agricultural sector, foreign exchange utilization for food and the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) contributed significantly to food availability in Nigeria. Food prices grew at a faster rate than the average income level, making it difficult to access sufficient food. It implies that prior to the year 2012; there was insufficient food to feed the Nigerian populace. However, continued credit to the food and agricultural sector will ensure sustained and sufficient production of food in Nigeria. Microfinance banks should make sufficient credit available to smallholder farmer. Government should further control and subsidize the rising price of food to make it more accessible by the people.

Keywords: Food security, food availability and food accessibility.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1109015

References:

[1] Denton, John A. (1990). Society and the official world: a reintroduction to sociology. Dix Hills, N.Y: General Hall. p.17. ISBN 0-930390-94-6
[2] Ogunfowoke, A., (2012) Combating Food Insecurity in Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://www.punchng.com/opinion/combating-foodinsecurity- in-nigeria/
[3] United Nations, (2005), Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Department of Public Information
[4] Jerome. A., (2012) “Nigeria’s Food Security Programs: Implications for MDG’s Goal of Extreme Hunger Eradication”. International Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 9;
[5] Nwajiuba, C. (2012) Nigeria’s Agricultural and Food Security Challenges Retrieved from: http://ng.boell.org/downloads/Agriculture_- _Green_Deal_Nigeria_study.pdf
[6] Ajayeoba. A., (2010) “Concerning Food Security in Nigeria”. West Africa Insights Retrieved from: http://westafricainsight.org/articles/PDF/81
[7] Murdock, H., (2012) Nigeria tries to curb appetite for imported food. Retrieved from: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/ africa/nigeria/120423/decrease-food-imports-increase-food-security
[8] Punch, (2012) Alarming food import bill. Retrieved from: http://www.punchng.com/editorial/alarming-food-import-bill/
[9] All Africa (2013) Nigeria's Outrageous Food Import Bill. Retrieved From: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311240262.html
[10] MCH data report (2012) Food Insecurity and Hunger. Retrieved from: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/160- 015_MCHDataReportFoodInsecHunger.pdf
[11] Attah. E., (2012) “Food Security in Nigeria: The Role of Peasant Farmers in Nigeria”. African Research Review. An International Multidisciplinary Journal, Ethiopia Vol. 6 (4), Serial No.27, Pp.173-190
[12] Ojo, E. and Adebayo, P., (2012) “Food Security in Nigeria: An Overview”. European Journal of Sustainable Development (2012), 1, 2, 199-222
[13] Adebayo, A. A., (2010) Food Security Status in Nigeria: Pre and Post Economic Deregulation Review. Retrieved from: http://www.icidr.org/ ijedri_vol1no1_april2010/Food%20Security%20Status%20in%20Nigeri a-Pre%20and%20Post%20Economic%20Deregulation%20Review.pdf
[14] Smith, D.W. (1998), “Urban Food Systems and the Poor in Developing Countries”, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New Series, Vol. 23, No. 2,published by Blackwell publishing on behalf of the The Royal Geographical Society. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (1994), Human Development Report 1994, New York: Oxford University Press.
[15] Okuneye, P., (2002) “Rising Cost of Food Prices and Food Insecurity I n Nigeria and Its Implication for Poverty Reduction”. CBN Economic & Financial Review, vol. 39 no. 4
[16] Jayne, T.S., Tschirley, D.L., Staatz, J. M., Scaffer, J.D., Weber, M.T., Chisvo, M., and Mukumbu, M. (1994), Market Oriented Strategies to Improve Household Access to Food –Experience from Sub-Saharan Africa, MSU International Development Paper No. 15, Michigan State University.
[17] FAO, (1996) “Socio-Political and Economic Environment for Food Security”. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Food Summit, Vol. 1, Sec. 1.4
[18] Nord, M., Jemison K. & Bickel, G.(1999) Prevalence of food insecurity and hunger, by state 1996-1998, Food Assistance and nutrition Research Report No. 2 Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Services, United States Department of Agriculture
[19] Bickel. G et al. (2000) Guide to measuring household food security. USDA, Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsec/files/fsguide.pdf.
[20] Hall. B., (2004) Understanding food security data and methodology Hunger Issue Brief, Food security Institute, Center on Hunger and Poverty
[21] Omotesho, O. A., Adewumi, M. O., Muhammad-Lawal, A. and Ayinde O. E., (2006) “Determinants of Food Security among The Rural Farming Households in Kwara State, Nigeria”. African Journal of General Agriculture Vol. 2, No. 1
[22] World Bank, (1991) “Strategy for Food and Nutrition Security”. World Bank Report N0. 9040. Washington D.C.
[23] Akinyele. I., (2009) Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in Rural Nigeria: An Assessment of the Challenges, Information Needs, and Analytical Capacity. Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP) Background Paper No. NSSP 007
[24] Rainer Gross, Hans Schoeneberger, Hans Pfeifer, Hans-Joachim A. Preuss (2000) The Four Dimensions of Food and Nutrition Security: Definitions and Concepts. Retrieved from: http://www.foodsec.org/ DL/course/shortcourseFA/en/pdf/P-01_RG_Concept.pdf
[25] Stamoulis, K.G., P. Pingali and Shetty, P. (2004), “ Emerging Challenges for Food and Nutrition Policy in Developing Countries” Special Issues on “ Globalization Of Food Systems: Impact on Food Security and Nutrition” electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics, eJADE 1(2): 154-167. Retrieved from: ftp://193.43.36.93/docrep../fao/007/ae224e/ae224e00.pdf
[26] Omotesho, O. A., Joseph, J. K., Apata, A. and Muhammad-Lawal, A., (2002) Food Security, Agricultural Production and Cooperatives In Nigeria pg 123-144. Retrieved from: http://unilorin.edu.ng/publications/ omoteshooa/Food%20Security%20Agricultural%20Production%20and %20Cooperatives%20in%20Ni.pdf
[27] Premium Times, (2013) 13 million Nigerians suffer from hunger- Agriculture Minister. Retrieved from: http://premiumtimesng.com/ news/140098-13-million-nigerians-suffer-from-hunger-agricultureminister. html
[28] Philips, D., Nkonya E., Pender J., Wale O., and O. Ayoola (2008), “Contract to Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria” International Food Policies. Retrieved from: http://bankofagricultureng.com/Documents/YZ56FG72CD68Constraints %20to%20Increasing%20Agricultural%20Productivity%20in%20Nigeri a.pdf
[29] Relief Web, (2013) Nigeria Food Security Update March 2013. Retrieved from: http://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-food-securityupdate- march-2013
[30] Iwuchukwu. J & Igboeke. E., (2012) Lessons from Agricultural Policies and Programmes in Nigeria. http://www.slideshare.net/ AlexanderDecker/lessons-from-agricultural-policies-and-programmesin- nigeria#
[31] Amalu, U.C., (1998) Agricultural Research and Extension Delivery Systems in sub-Sharan Africa: Calabar .University of Calabar Press
[32] Orefi. A., (2012) “Food Security in Nigeria and South Africa: Policies and Challenges”. J Hum Ecol, 38(1): 31-35
[33] IFAD (2014) Roots and Tuber Expansion Program (closed). Retrieved from: http://www.fidafrique.net/rubrique174.html
[34] Hassan,T (2010) FG Introduces Root And Tuber Expansion Programme II Retrieved from: http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/fgintroduces- root-and-tuber-expansion-programme-ii/
[35] Ministry of Agriculture (2014) Third National Fadama Development Project http://www.fadama.net/HTML/index.php
[36] FADAMA III (2014) Third Fadama National Development Project http://www.fadama.net/HTML/index.php
[37] IFAD AFRICA (2014) Community-based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme. Retrieved from: http://www.fidafrique.net/ rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=173
[38] FMARD (2013) Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Mid Term Review. Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/ TransformNG/federal-ministry-of-agriculture#
[39] ADB (2014) Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme. Retrieved from http://www.afdb.org/projects-andoperations/ project-portfolio/project/p-ng-aab-003/
[40] FRN (2013) Agricultural transformation’s intervention in five value chains raises net earnings for rural farmers – Adesina, Agric Minister. Retrieved from: http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/2012-10-29-11-09-25/news/ 393-agricultural-transformation-s-intervention-in-five-value-chainsraises- net-earnings-for-rural-farmers-adesina-agric-miniister
[41] Oni, K.C. (2008) Transforming Agricultural Potentials to Wealth in Northern Nigeria. Invited Paper Presented at the Northern Nigerian Economic and Investment Summit (NEIS), Abuja, October, 2008.
[42] Tollens, F., (2000) “Food Security: Incidence and Causes of Food Insecurity among Vulnerable Groups and Coping Strategies”, In, CTA (2000) Food Insecurity in ACP Countries, Proceedings of a CTA Seminar, pp 27 -50.