Food Security: Threat Factors, Policies and Challenges

282 Pages·2017·4 MB·English

by  Jonathan Webb

FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

F S
OOD ECURITY

T F , P
HREAT ACTORS OLICIES
C
AND HALLENGES

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F S T
OOD CIENCE AND ECHNOLOGY

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FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

F S
OOD ECURITY

T F , P
HREAT ACTORS OLICIES
C
AND HALLENGES

JONATHAN WEBB
EDITOR
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CONTENTS

Preface vii
Chapter 1 The Role of Cassava Production in Improving
Food Security in the Delta State of Nigeria 1
Bonaventure C. Onodu and Richard J. Culas
Chapter 2 An Assessment of Rural Women’s Use of
Information and Communication Technologies
for Food Security Information in
the Niger Delta, Nigeria 35
Ifeoma Q. Anugwa, Agwu E. Agwu, Jane M. Chah
and Cynthia E. Nwobodo
Chapter 3 Women Food-Crop Entrepreneurs in
Southwestern Cameroon: Challenges to
Promoting National Food Security 49
Lotsmart Fonjong
Chapter 4 The Contribution of Diaspora Remittances to
Household Food Security in the Tsholotsho
District, Zimbabwe 75
Thomas Marambanyika and Clara Ndlovu
vi Contents
Chapter 5 Rice Food Security in the Pearl River Delta, China:
A Case Study 97
Junhui Li, Lin Zhang, Ying Lu, Chongjian Jia and
Hojae Shim
Bibliography 115
Index 267
PREFACE

The 20th century saw the most rapid and most dramatic agricultural
transformation in human history. Science-based agriculture brought about many
changes on the farm that transformed agriculture from subsistence to a more
productive and profitable modern industrial based agriculture. Cassava is one of
the main sources of world carbohydrate with Africa recognized as the highest
producing continent and Nigeria as the highest producing country. Chapter One
conducted an investigation in Nigeria to find out the variable inputs that affects
the output of cassava farming households. Chapter Two assesses rural women’s
level of use of information and communication technologies for food security
information in the oil rich Niger Delta. Chapter Three explores the changing
socio-economic environment of food production in Cameroon and its
implications on food security. Chapter Four discusses the contribution of
diaspora remittances to household food security in in Zimbabwe. Chapter Five
focuses on rice food security in the Pearl River Delta of China, and demonstrates
that the joint application of silicon and phosphorus fertilizers is an appropriate
option to minimize arsenic accumulation in rice grain.
Chapter 1 - The 20th century saw the most rapid and most dramatic
agricultural transformation in human history. Science-based agriculture brought
about many changes on the farm that transformed agriculture from subsistence
to a more productive and profitable modern industrial based agriculture.
Cassava is one of the main sources of world carbohydrate with Africa
recognized as the highest producing continent and Nigeria as the highest
producing country. Cassava provides food security as it can be grown on less
fertile soils, it is a source of income for farmers and provides food for many
household. An investigation was conducted in Ndokwa West Local Government
Area of Delta state Nigeria to find out the variable inputs that affects the output
viii Jonathan Webb
of cassava farming households. Estimation from a linear regression model,
evidence from primary data collected at the study area, reveals that inputs such
as planting materials and labour significantly affect cassava production. These
findings indicate that as the amount of planting materials and labour utilized by
the farmer’s increases, cassava production also increases. The primary data was
also analyzed in relation to the socioeconomic characteristics of cassava
producing households. These empirical analyses can help to highlight the
policies required for improving cassava production in Delta State of Nigeria.
The rate of food insecurity in Nigeria has been increasing due to lack of
economic access to food either directly or indirectly. Evidences show that
inappropriate agricultural policies and programs by governments in Nigeria
have been the contributing factors to the rate of food insecurity. The
improvement in food production resulting in an increase in food security
requires consistent improvement in labour productivity and yield. These will
hence have a positive impact on the socioeconomic wellbeing of smallholder
farmers. Therefore understanding the relationship between cassava production,
farm income and food security is important for designing appropriate
intervention strategies.
Chapter 2 - Information and communications technologies (ICTs) represent
an important strategy that can be used by rural women in attaining food security.
This study therefore assesses rural women’s level of use of information and
communication technologies for food security information in the oil rich Niger
Delta, Nigeria. A total of 120 rural women farmers were selected using the
multi-stage sampling technique. Structured interview schedules were
administered to them. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, mean
scores, percentage and multiple regression. Results of the study revealed that
40% of the respondents had access to food security information through various
ICTs. Findings also showed that radio was the most used source of food security
information (50.0%) by the women relative to television (39.6%) and mobile
phone (10.4%). A regression analysis between the personal and socio-economic
characteristics of the women and use of ICTs revealed that marital status (t = -
2.880; p = 0.043), household size (t = 2.902; p = 0.035) and educational status
(t = 2.157; p = 0.053) significantly influenced rural women’s use of ICTs for
food security information. The respondents further indicated that poor income
(M = 1.60) among others were perceived constraints to the use of ICT among
rural women. The study therefore recommends that concerted efforts should be
made by extension agents to ensure that women-specific programmes are
broadcasted on television and radio so as to help them get the needed
information to improve their household food security situation.