Food Science and Technology Vol. 4(1), pp. 1 - 6
DOI: 10.13189/fst.2016.040101
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The New Nigerian Agricultural Policy: Efficient for Food Security?

Owolabi I.O. ^1,*, Ashaolu J.T. ², Twumasi-Ankrah S. ^3
1 Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
² Nutraceutical and Functional Food Research Institute, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
³ Department of Mathematics, University of Mines and Technology, Ghana

ABSTRACT

The major problem affecting poor people in developing countries has been food insecurity, while households living in poverty have continued to be vulnerable in their situation. Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa with an urban population growing at an exponential rate, the government's objective of achieving food self-security is a major challenge. The country shows a relatively rapid economic growth, which makes this goal not unrealistic but rather requires a great deal of effort. Having many singular features, it has no exception when it comes to agricultural policy in the region, caught between tremendous potentials, immense ambitions. After the post-colonial era in Nigeria, agricultural policies and programmes have undergone changes and this has been seen to emphasize almost the same objectives like: providing food for the inhabitants of the nation (food security and sufficiency) and export excess to other countries and to provide rural dwellers and farmers with extension services, to mention a few. This study has laid emphasis on the new agricultural policy launched in 2001 which is termed ‘new policy' with evaluations made on its influence on some indicators of agricultural production in the country and components of food security. Deductions from the secondary data used show that the new policy in Nigeria has influenced the fore mentioned positively with exceptions on food stability and access to sanitation facilities. Possible causes of decline in effectiveness on these components of food security were identified with recommendations proffered for future policies and programme interventions.

KEYWORDS
Agricultural Policies, Nigeria, Food Security, Agricultural Production

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Owolabi I.O. , Ashaolu J.T. , Twumasi-Ankrah S. , "The New Nigerian Agricultural Policy: Efficient for Food Security?," Food Science and Technology, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1 - 6, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/fst.2016.040101.

(b). APA Format:
Owolabi I.O. , Ashaolu J.T. , Twumasi-Ankrah S. (2016). The New Nigerian Agricultural Policy: Efficient for Food Security?. Food Science and Technology, 4(1), 1 - 6. DOI: 10.13189/fst.2016.040101.