Food security transition among agricultural households in Nigeria

With rising food insecurity and worsening performance of related indices, the need to examine the food insecurity dynamics of agricultural households in the country is imperative. Using the LSMS-ISA data, the study examines food insecurity transition among agricultural households in Nigeria. Data was analysed using descriptive Statistics, Foster Greer and Thorbecke, Food Insecurity Transition Matrix and the dynamic probit model. The food insecurity incidence increased across the four periods from 44.1% in 2011/2012 to 53.4% in 2018/2019. Widening inequality exist even among the food insecure. Food insecurity transition matrix revealed that 87.6% of households are transitorily food insecured, 5.5% are chronically food insecured while 7% are food secured. Major factors driving food insecurity across the period were farm size, fall in the price of outputs and increase in price of major food items. In addressing food insecurity issues, the area of land under cultivation should be increased to boost food production and farm income. The government should introduce an output price support programme and functional marketing boards to cushion the effects of rising prices of major food items and inputs.