Determinants of National Food Security in Nigeria

Abstract

Food is a basic necessity of life and it is required for both human and economic development. Considering the massive movement of labour and other productive resources away from the agricultural sector as a result of the oil boom in the early 1970 which, constituted a lot of problems to the food security situation in Nigeria, this study examines the determinants of national  food security in Nigeria. The study found out that the various problems encountered by the food sector in the economy include; policy ineffectiveness, high cost of production, high exchange rate, increasing population e.t.c. These factors cause inflationary pressures on food prices and they are the reasons why food security in Nigeria has worsened in the country over the yearss. However, this study recommends that food security situation in Nigeria can be greatly improved upon if the cost of production in agriculture can be reduced and if the exchange rate prevailing in our country can be lowered.  The study also suggests that food production should be in line with the rapid population growth in order to save the country from the high rate of poverty.

Keywords: Food, Insecurity, Determinants, National and Security