POLICY FLAWS AND FOOD INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

A STUDY OF EBONYI STATE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Abstract

Food insecurity is a global challenge. It has far reaching consequences on the lives of people. It results in hunger which affects development especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Previous studies paid attention on the plights of people during food insecurity without attention on the effect of government policies in overcoming the challenge of food insecurity. This study therefore unveils the flaws associated with policies and programmes on food security in Ebonyi State Nigeria. Survey design was adopted for this study. Diffusion model theory provided the framework for this study. The questionnaire instrument which centred on respondents demographic data and factors responsible for poor implementation of agricultural policies that would have promoted food security in Nigeria were distributed to one hundred and fifty two (152) respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative components of data were content analysed. Results indicate that failure of food security policies and programmes was as a result of: lack of basic infrastructure like good road network, electricity/power (54%), Fraud, dishonesty and corruption in the system (61%), lack of farmers access to bank facilities (55%), natural hazards like flood and pests (57%), lack of training and capacity building (51%) and non availability of mechanized farming equipment (49%). The study recommends that: government at all levels should collaborate with experts to train stakeholders who will help to ensure the realization of food security policies of government, basic infrastructure especially road and electricity should be improved on so as to ensure improved and enhanced food processing, food storage and transportation and that government should partner with the private investors to boost food production.