Original scientific paper
Assessment of Agricultural Trade Flow and Food Security Status: Evidence from Nigeria
Abiodun Elijah Obayelu
; Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Nigeria
Sarah Edore Edewor
orcid.org/0000-0003-3596-3176
; Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Agatha Osivwene Ogbe
; Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Nigeria
Elizabeth Omolola Oyedepo
orcid.org/0000-0003-2769-296X
; Department of Economics, Faculty of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Augustine University, Ilara - Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria
Abstract
Trade has substantial potentials to increase the diversity and quality of food consumed in a country. The main objective of this study is to assess the relationship between agricultural trade flow and food security status using Nigeria as a case study (WTO, 2002). The study mined secondary data from sources such as the National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria, Economist Intelligence Unit, the World Bank, World Development Indicators and FAO Statistics. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that although the share of food agricultural import and food bill was higher than that of export over the years, it consequentially increased food insecurity, brought about a deterioration in the state of food affordability, food quality and safety in Nigeria. Similarly, tariff rates in Nigeria have been low for most agricultural products with the average applied Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff pegged at 15.8 percent. Aggregate food production and per capita consumption is projected to increase more in Nigeria without climate change. Under the climate change scenario, cereals trade flows from Nigeria are higher relative to 2010 and the lowest net trade is experienced for pulses and oil seeds. Agricultural trade is extremely important for achieving food security. However, when trade in agricultural goods and inputs is opened, an important role for government is to ensure that these products are safe and of quality. The results from this study suggest that trade will become very important for food security in the future and if climate change is not properly checked, it will be an issue that will lead to higher levels of food insecurity.
Keywords
comparative advantage, food affordability, food availability, food safety, Most-Favoured-Nation, WTO
Hrčak ID:
318462
URI
Publication date:
16.8.2024.
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