Hunger in the midst of plenty: A study on Food insecurity in Nigeria
How to feed more than seven billion people worldwide is one of the most difficult problems facing humanity today. Food security is a complicated, diverse notion that is typically influenced by geography, culture, and environment. Ample food production is the first crucial element of social and economic justice. A country should be able to feed its people even if it cannot send astronauts to the moon; only then can it hold a position of honour in the international community (Otaha (2013). Before oil was found in Nigeria’s in commercial quantities in 1956, agriculture was the main part of the country’s economy. Each region took use of its comparative advantage by focusing on a distinct set of cash crops. From its contributions, it was clear that agriculture was the most important part of the Nigerian economy at that time. Agriculture not only met 95% of Nigerians’ food needs, but it also made up 64.1% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and gave jobs to more than 70% of the country’s people (Paul, 2015). Corroboratively, Okotie (2018) noted that at that time agricultural exports accounted for 80% of foreign exchange earnings and 50% of government revenue. The 1970s oil boom changed everything since the country became too oil-dependent to bring in foreign money. Since the mid-1970s, oil has provided 95% of it’s foreign exchange (Ikpeze et al., 2004; Okotie, 2018). Since the 1970s, Nigeria’s successive governments have made a point of expressing their aim to diversify the economy and bring back the agricultural industry as a key economic engine. However, little has changed because the industry is remains in the dark despite its promise.
According to World Data Lab (6 May 2020), Nigeria has an estimated population of 205,323,520 people, of which 102,407,327 (or 50% of the entire population) live in extreme poverty (World Data Lab, 2020). Over the past two decades, worries about food security in Nigeria have grown steadily, and they now constitute a critical issue that needs prompt response from all levels of government. With efficient management, Nigeria’s abundant natural and human resources could provide for its population while also allowing it to export surpluses. The country still faces a quantity and quality food crisis. Increased malnutrition and undernutrition. The bulk of Nigerians’ dietary needs are much below the average for the world (Otaha, 2013). Agriculture in Nigeria is characterized by poor investment and low production, both of which emanate from an excessive reliance on local farming technologies. Traditional farming methods are used almost exclusively (Emmanuel, Stephen, Joe, and Ignacio, 2017). In Nigeria, population growth surpasses agricultural productivity, therefore food demand exceeds supply (Agbidgbe and Nana, 2021).
Food Security
Food serves as the psychological foundation for other aspects and human actions, according to Eme, Onyishi, and Uche (2014). Food security exists when all people, regardless of their socioeconomic standing or physical location, have access to an amount of food that is not only wholesome but also sufficient for leading an active and healthy life.(2006). Food security means having enough staple foods and inexpensive access to them for the whole population (Akinyetun, 2018).
Reasons for Food Security in Nigeria
The agricultural sector in Nigeria offers latent potential that, if handled effectively, could enhance farmer revenue, food and nutritional security, employment possibilities, and drive the country to the top of the world food market rankings. However, there are numerous obstacles to repositioning the agriculture industry in Nigeria. These include, among others, corruption, an uncompetitive environment for agriculture, lack of access to credit underinvestment, ineffective policy execution, and security issues (Downie, 2017).
Hunger and poverty are mostly a result of gender inequality. For those who cannot engage in paid work, whether it be in the formal, informal, or agricultural sectors, food security can be a serious worry. In 2009, the United Nations estimated that 90% of the people in the world who are always hungry are women and girls. There is a lot of evidence that when women have income, it is more likely to be spent on food and the needs of their children than on other things. Typically, women make the dietary decisions. Most women are not given access to land for farming, and this is endorsed by many ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Food production and distribution are greatly hampered by the frequent changes in policy as well as the poor performance of organizations assigned with the responsibility of executing food and farm policies. It is not because the new agriculture policies and programs are superior to the old ones that the previous policies and programs are abandoned and replaced with new ones whenever a new administration takes power. These alterations are being made in an attempt to open up more options for corruption. This makes stability and improvement in food production impossible.
Poverty and hunger inhibit people’s efforts to boost productivity. Agriculture and food production take a lot of money and work. Unfortunately, most of Nigeria’s food is grown by poor peasant farmers who find it hard to learn, work, and take care of themselves and their families, let alone get the resources and energy to help other people (Eme, Onyishi, and Uche, 2014).
The low food production in Nigeria is mostly because to the frequent climate shifts that have led to a lack of precipitation and an ongoing drought in the northern area of the country, as well as excessive precipitation and floods in the southern and middle belt portions of the country (Otaha, 2013). In a similar vein, Nigeria’s food production is in jeopardy due to a shortage of technology, inadequate funding for agriculture, and migration from rural areas to urban centres.
There is little doubt that the insecurity that is created by both Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen is the greatest danger to the agriculture industry (Nwozor, Olanrewaju, and Ake, 2019). The persistent terrorist attacks conducted by Boko Haram have had a considerable impact on the amount of work that is done in the agriculture sector in the northeast of Nigeria. Not only is it impossible to farm when conditions are uncertain, but domestic agricultural production is also inhibited, rural people are uprooted, and access to regional markets is blocked (Eigege & Cooke, 2016).
Recommendations
In the event that steps are not done to reduce and, eventually, eradicate food insecurity, the country of Nigeria’s framework for the management of security will be severely impacted. Instability in the nation’s food supply can either be a cause of or a consequence of the country’s overall lack of stability, depending on the specifics of the situation. The situation with Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen is an example of how national instability can make food insecurity worse. Accordingly, a lack of food might lead to unrest, which might compromise national security by causing a security crisis. This downward spiral may continue indefinitely and result in complicated security circumstances that could ultimately erode and damage the state.
Addressing discrimination against women and recognizing women’s contributions in agriculture are essential for maintaining global food security. In addition to boosting agricultural output, reducing poverty, and increasing food security, elevating women’s position has also been shown to increase their own social standing. The efficient implementation of agricultural initiatives, as well as food and nutrition-related interventions, is necessary, particularly to the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. Boko Haram, armed conflict, banditry, and crises caused by Fulani herdsmen must all be addressed, especially in the northeast and north-central regions of the nation.
References
Agbidgbe, G., & Nana, R. (2021). The role of food and nutrition in actualizing sustainable development goals through food security in Nigeria. MOJOVTE Maiden Edition, 1, 132- 137.
Downie, R. (2017). Growing the agriculture sector in Nigeria. A Report of the CSIS Global Food Security Project. Retrieved 20 August, 2022, from https://csis- prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fspublic/publication/170317_Downie_AgricultureSectorNige ria_Web.pdf.
Eigege, J. & Cooke, J. (2016). Tracing the roots of Nigeria’s agricultural decline. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Retrieved 22 August 23, 2022, from https://csis- prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fspublic/publication/160505_Eigege_NigeriasAgriculturalDec line_Web.pdf
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Emmanuel, D., Stephen, O., Joe, B., Ignacio, C. (2017) The Impact of the presidential initiative on cassava productivity in Nigeria: Implication for sustainable food supply and food security. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 3(1), 1-14.
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