TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS. iv
CHAPTER ONE. 1
INTRODUCTION. 1
1.1 Background to The Study. 1
1.2 Statement of The Problem.. 4
1.3 Objectives of The Study. 5
1.4 Research Questions. 6
1.5 Research Hypothesis. 6
1.6 Significance of The Study. 6
1.7 Scope of The Study. 7
1.8 Limitations of The Study. 7
1.9 Organization of The Study. 8
1.10 Definition of Terms. 9
CHAPTER TWO.. 11
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE. 11
2.1 Introduction. 11
2.2 Theoretical Review.. 11
2.2.1 The Capability Approach Theory. 11
2.2.2 The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. 12
2.2.3 The Food Systems Approach. 13
2.2.4 The Political Economy Theory. 13
2.3 Conceptual Review.. 14
2.3.1 Overview of Key Concepts. 14
2.3.2 Food Security Concept in Nigeria. 15
2.3.3 Government Policies in The Pre-Independence Era. 15
2.3.4 Post-Independence Agricultural Policies. 15
2.3.5 Structural Adjustment Program and Its Effects. 16
2.3.6 National Food Security Policy (2001) 16
2.3.7 The Role of Subsidy Programs in Food Security. 17
2.3.8 The National Social Investment Program (Nsip) 17
2.3.9 Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (Ata) 17
2.3.10 Food Security and Climate Change. 18
2.4 Empirical Review.. 18
2.5 Summary of Literature Review.. 21
CHAPTER THREE. 23
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. 23
3,1 Introduction. 23
3.2 Research Design. 23
3.3 Area of Study. 23
3.4 Population of The Study. 24
3.5 Sampling Technique and Sample Size. 24
3.6 Data Collection Methods. 24
3.7 Instrumentation. 25
3.8 Method of Data Analysis. 25
3.9 Ethical Considerations. 26
3.10 Limitations of The Study. 26
CHAPTER FOUR. 28
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION. 28
4.1 Preamble. 28
4.2 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents. 28
TABLES BASED ON RESEARCH QUESTIONS. 33
4.3 Analysis of The Respondents’ Views on Research Question One: 33
4.4 Research Hypothesis. 44
4.5 Discussion of Findings. 45
Chapter Five. 48
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 48
5.1 Summary of Findings. 48
5.2 Conclusion. 49
5.3 Recommendations. 50
REFERENCES. 52
APENDICES. 56
APENDIX I; RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE. 56
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to The Study
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2022) defines food security as a condition in which “all people have physical, social and economic access at all times to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy living." Food security goes beyond merely ensuring the availability of food; it also encompasses access, utilization, and long-term stability. It is a key element in the broader goal of sustainable societal development, as emphasized in the United Nations General Assembly resolution, *Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development* (United Nations, 2015).
This resolution underscores food security as a vital objective in fostering long-term social and economic well-being. This resolution highlights food security as a critical objective for promoting lasting social and economic progress. The importance of achieving food security is widely recognized, as demonstrated by the adoption and signing of various international legal frameworks that set out the main objectives and targets for ensuring food security (FAO, 1996). In Nigeria, food security remains a pressing concern as a significant proportion of the population struggles to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Fighting hunger and achieving food security through research are critical to the long-term development of society. Government policy plays a central role here, as its decisions can significantly influence the country's development course (Aiyedogbon et al., 2022). Furthermore, scholars such as Hadouga (2023) and Bouchafaa et al. (2023) emphasize the crucial role of public policy in guiding socio-economic and demographic progress. Litovtseva et al. (2022), Pakhnenko and Kuan (2023) and Gentsoudi (2023) examined the role of the public sector as a leading reformer.
Zolkover et al. (2022) and Lyeonov et al. (2022) emphasize the importance of public policies and government institutions in ensuring successful change. Government policies largely determine the economic conditions that influence food security. The National Food Security Program (NFSP) and other agricultural development programs are among the numerous initiatives launched by the Nigerian government over the years.
By promoting rural development, stabilizing markets and increasing agricultural productivity, these programs aim to reduce food insecurity. However, food security continues to face significant challenges, exacerbated by issues such as insecurity, climate change, and unstable economies. As a result, the effectiveness of these interventions has been called into question (World Bank, 2021). Consequently, the government has placed special emphasis on the agricultural sector.
By providing financial support, introducing technological advances and improving smallholder farmers' access to necessary inputs, programs such as the Anchor Borrowers' Program (ABP) and the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) aim to increase food production. These measures aim to reduce dependence on food imports and increase domestic food production.
However, their implementation was fraught with challenges such as poor infrastructure, inadequate funding and inadequate coordination between different levels of government. Studies show that while some measures have succeeded in increasing crop yields in certain regions, their overall impact on national food security remains uneven (FAO, 2022).
In an effort to improve nutrition and strengthen food security, the Nigerian government has introduced social safety net programs like the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSFP) that target the poorest households. These initiatives aim to solve food access problems, especially for disadvantaged groups. Although these programs have been praised for their ability to reduce poverty and improve food access in rural areas, debates remain about their long-term viability and scalability due to their frequent reliance on external funding and difficulties in monitoring and Prepare assessment (UNICEF, 2020).
Finally, the success of food security policy in Nigeria is closely linked to broader macroeconomic policies, including trade, monetary and fiscal policies. For example, the devaluation of the naira has affected the affordability of imported food, while measures to promote local food production have been affected by inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.
Given the ongoing food insecurity crisis in Nigeria, thorough assessments of past and current government programs are urgently needed to determine their effectiveness. Moreso, future plans to achieve long-term food security in the country will be supported by an understanding of the relationship between these metrics and food security outcomes (NBS, 2023; Oxfam, 2021).Top of Form
Bottom of Form
1.2 Statement of The Problem
Food insecurity continues to be a significant challenge in Nigeria, despite various government interventions aimed at improving agricultural productivity and food access. The policies implemented by the Nigerian government, such as the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and the Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP), have focused on enhancing domestic food production and reducing dependence on food imports. However, the effectiveness of these policies in addressing food security has been inconsistent across different regions, with many households still unable to access sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food. This discrepancy points to underlying issues such as poor infrastructure, insecurity, climate change, and economic instability, which have hindered the success of food security initiatives in Nigeria (World Bank, 2021).
Moreover, the government’s social safety net programs, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSFP) and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) schemes, have been designed to directly address the access dimension of food security. However, their impact remains limited by challenges such as inadequate funding, poor implementation, and the lack of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. The need for a comprehensive evaluation of these policies is evident, as it is essential to assess their actual impact on food security outcomes and to identify the factors contributing to their successes or shortcomings. This evaluation will provide critical insights for improving policy formulation and ensuring long-term food security in Nigeria (FAO, 2022).Top of Form
Bottom of Form
1.3 Objectives of The Study
The main objective of the study is to examine Evaluation of the Impact of Government Policies on Food Security in Nigeria. Specific objectives of the study are:
- To assess the effectiveness of government agricultural subsidies in improving food production and household food security.
- To how have government agricultural subsidies impacted the productivity and income levels of smallholder farmers?
- To evaluate the impact of government infrastructure investments on food security, particularly in rural areas.
1.4 Research Questions
To guide the study and achieve the objectives of the study, the following research questions were formulated:
- To what extent have government agricultural subsidies influenced the adoption of improved agricultural technologies and practices among smallholder farmers?
- What is the relationship between government agricultural subsidies and household food security outcomes, such as dietary diversity and food consumption?
- How have government investments in rural roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities affected agricultural production and market access?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
The following research hypothesis was developed and tested for the study:
Ho: There is no significant impact of government policies on food security in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of The Study
The study is important for many reasons. The following are the major stakeholders this paper through its practical and theoretical implications and findings will be of great significance:
Firstly, the paper will benefit major stakeholders and policy makers in the Agric economics sector. The various analysis, findings and discussions outlined in this paper will serve as a guide in enabling major positive changes in the industry and sub-sectors.
Secondly, the paper is also beneficial to the organizations used for the research. Since first hand data was gotten and analyzed from the organization, they stand a chance to benefit directly from the findings of the study in respect to their various organizations. These findings will fast track growth and enable productivity in the organizations used as a case study.
Finally, the paper will serve as a guide to other researchers willing to research further into the subject matter. Through the conclusions, limitations and gaps identified in the subject matter, other student and independent researchers can have a well laid foundation to conduct further studies.
1.7 Scope of The Study
The study is delimited to National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Lagos. Findings and recommendations from the study reflects the views and opinions of respondents sampled in the area. It may not reflect the entire picture in the population.
1.8 Limitations of The Study
The major limitations of the research study are time, financial constraints and delays from respondents. The researcher had difficulties combining lectures with field work. Financial constraints in form of getting adequate funds and sponsors to print questionnaires, hold Focus group discussions and logistics was recorded. Finally, respondents were a bit reluctant in filling questionnaires and submitting them on time. This delayed the project work a bit.
1.9 Organization of The Study
The study is made up of five (5) Chapters. Chapter one of the study gives a general introduction to the subject matter, background to the problem as well as a detailed problem statement of the research. This chapter also sets the objectives of the paper in motion detailing out the significance and scope of the paper.
Chapter Two of the paper entails the review of related literature with regards to corporate governance and integrated reporting. This chapter outlines the conceptual reviews, theoretical reviews and empirical reviews of the study.
Chapter Three centers on the methodologies applied in the study. A more detailed explanation of the research design, population of the study, sample size and technique, data collection method and analysis are discussed in this chapter.
Chapter Four highlights’ data analysis and interpretation giving the readers a thorough room for the discussion of the practical and theoretical implications of data analyzed in the study.
Chapter Five outlines the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study. Based on objectives set out, the researcher concludes the paper by answering all research questions set out in the study.
1.10 Definition of Terms
1. Food Security
The state in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life.
2. Government Policies
A set of actions, laws, regulations, and initiatives developed and implemented by the government to achieve specific socio-economic objectives, such as improving agricultural productivity, reducing poverty, and enhancing food security.
3. Agricultural Productivity
The measure of the output of agricultural commodities (crops, livestock, etc.) relative to the inputs used, such as land, labor, capital, and technology. It serves as a key indicator of the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural policies.
4. Poverty Alleviation
Efforts and programs aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of poverty among the population, which is directly linked to improved access to food and overall food security.
5. Food Availability
The presence of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality, supplied through domestic production, imports, and food aid, within a country or region.
6. Policy Impact Assessment
The systematic evaluation of the effects of government policies on specific outcomes, such as agricultural development, income levels, and food security, using quantitative and qualitative methods.
7. Climate Resilience
The capacity of agricultural systems, communities, and policies to adapt to and recover from the adverse effects of climate variability and change, which are critical factors influencing food security in Nigeria.
