Constraints to Food Security in Nigeria and Implications

Abstract

The study investigated the constraints to food security and the effects onNigerians. The population comprised of Agricultural Science teachers,lecturers, students, farm managers, Home Economists, Nutritionists, literatefarmers from four states in Nigeria. From these a sample of 320 wasrandomly selected. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The data was analyzed by computing the percentages, mean, standard deviation andvariance of the responses. Findings indicated that some of the constraints to food security are poverty and low income level. Few people are engaged in farming and high post harvest losses. Some effects of food insecurity aremalnutrition, poor health status, high mortality rate and low life span. It wasrecommended among others that Nigeria should adopt the successful foodsecurity measures used by advanced countries.