CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2010, reported that about 2.0 billion people globally are suffering from chronic malnutrition, which is manifested in diseases like kwashiorkor, marasmus and other related malnutrition problems. Out of this population, about 1.2 billion are from the developing countries, of Asia, Africa and Latin America, where the most prevalent cause of death in post weaned-infants is protein malnutrition. More than twelve (12) million children under age 5 die annually because of food-related nutrition and health problems and about 178 million children globally are stunted. The consequences of this malnutrition are slow economic growth (poverty), direct losses in productivity as a result of the poor physical status and indirect losses from poor cognitive function. About 150 million children under five years old are underweight, and more that 20 million suffer from severe malnutrition. It is estimated that 350 million women have nutritional anaemia. Some 40 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency, some of whom go blind, and most of those who do, die. About 250,000 children go blind or partially blind and survive. Iodine deficiency (IDD) afflicts 200 million to 300 million people with goiter, and at least 6 million suffer from cretinism (FAO, 2010). Currently, the number of people without enough food to eat on a regular basis remains stubbornly high, and is not falling significantly.
However, about 90% of Nigerian farmers engage in subsistence agriculture without adequate capital to expand their farms and store their farm produce after harvest so that agro-processing industries could access them all year round. Due to the dearth of infrastructural facilities such as good roads, processing and storage equipment as well as inadequate marketing information; huge quantities of these agro – raw materials waste uncontrollably.
Our farmers and other stakeholders in the food supply chain therefore need to rise to the occasion by reducing food waste through good post – harvest management practices such as the use of storage facilities and appropriate processing technologies. This would guarantee food security thus enabling the populace to overcome the incidence of malnutrition.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The first essential component of social and economic justice is adequate food production. Even if a nation cannot send cosmonauts to the moon, it should be able to feed her population, only then can it occupy place of pride in the community of nations. Nigeria is a country richly blessed with abundant natural and human resources that if properly harnessed can feed its people and export the surpluses to other countries, yet it is experiencing persistent food crisis both in terms of quantity and quality. Cases of malnutrition and under nutrition are growing by the day. The food intake requirements of majority of Nigerians have fallen far below the international standard. Past effort at improving food supply through agricultural production has not yielded successful results. The programmes that were introduced only helped to alienate the peasant farmers who are the major producers of food in Nigeria. Therefore, this study is aimed at examining tackling food insecurity in the country.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
To identify the effect of food insecurity in the country.
To examined the causes of food insecurity in Nigeria.
To identify the challenges of food security in the country.
To suggest measures aimed at achieving food security in the country
Research Questions
The following research questions are pertain to the study
What are the effects of food insecurity in the country?
What are the causes of food insecurity in Nigeria?
What are the challenges of food security in the country?
What measures could be adopted to achieve food security in the country?
1.5 Significance of the Study The Nigerian government has made food security a top priority in its economic reform agenda. It has also formulated agricultural policies and adopted some strategies, it is believes will make the agricultural sector of the economy more viable to ensure food security. It is hoped that this study will serves as a readymade tool for government to apply strategic ways in tackling the problem of food insecurity in the country.
It will also be of significance help to farmers by providing them with modern methods of farming and post-harvest processing, storage and preservation of farms products.
Furthermore, the study will serve as guide to student researchers who may wish to explore more on this or related topics.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The research covers the challenges of food insecurity in Nigeria. Using Ikono/Ini L.G. Areas of Akwa Ibom State as a case study
1.7 Limitations of the Study
A research of this nature is found to have a lot of limitations. Time factor was a serious problem encountered; the period given for the completion of this research work was share along with academic, non-academic work which was necessary in relation with a completion of school in general. The time spread to include the distribution and gathering of questionnaire from respondents which was a problem of its own entirely.
Financial constraints can never be rule out in a situation like this, the money required for the running around, cost of materials etc.
Another limitation is that of material for the secondary data. Even though there are many existing text books and journals of insurance nature which would have been used for this research work. Getting them in the library was not easy as many students are equally writing on similar topics which require the same materials.
