scholarly journals Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Malnutrition in Nigeria

Author(s):  
H. Onyeaka ◽  
I. Agbugba ◽  
O. C. Ekwebelem ◽  
C. Anumudu ◽  
A. Anyogu ◽  
...  

As a developing nation and the most populous nation in Africa, Nigeria has faced challenges associated with meeting the food needs of its expanding population over the years. This is due to the nation transitioning from a net exporter of foods to being dependent on food imports, leading to many people suffering from stunting and severe malnourishment. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded this food insufficiency within the country with its attendant global impacts. The restrictions in the movement of people and goods in the country, due to the current pandemic, have affected access to food and agricultural input, heavily affecting the financial ability of families. This mini-review highlights the impact of COVID-19 on the country's nutritional status, the rising incidence of food insecurity and proposes approaches that can be employed to mitigate these adverse effects. Approaches to improving food security and the nutritional status of the country during the pandemic and post-pandemic era will involve deliberate policies of the government which focuses on increasing funding to local food producers, lifting restrictions on the transport of food commodities, encouraging markets for the retail of locally produced foods and more importantly instituting nutritional intervention programmes for children and the vulnerable within the community.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-107
Author(s):  
Mas Wedar Haryagung Adji ◽  
Santi Yulianti ◽  
Syifaa Tresnaningrum ◽  
Erna Gustina Norrista

Indonesia is one of the largest agricultural countries in Southeast Asia, but it is also struggling with food security issues. The government's challenge is to ensure that domestic food needs are fulfilled. The covid-19 pandemic exacerbated this challenge, where countries faced the threat of food shortages due to limited movement of goods. Thus, Indonesia should focus on increasing the production and productivity of strategic food commodities. One of the alternative solutions is through the transmigration program. This research focused on how the transmigration program can contribute to food security. The study was carried out through a descriptive qualitative method. The result shows that transmigration contributes to food security because of its similarity to the food production process. However, this program faces five main challenges to support food security. Therefore, this study shows several pre-conditions that the government needs to fulfill to overcome these challenges.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7905
Author(s):  
Moh. Shadiqur Rahman ◽  
Hery Toiba ◽  
Wen-Chi Huang

The impacts of climate change on marine capture fisheries have been observed in several studies. It is likely to have a substantial effect on fishers’ income and food security. This study aims to estimate the impact of adaptation strategies on fishers’ income and their household’s food security. Data were collected from small-scale fishers’ households, which own a fishing boat smaller or equal to five gross tonnages (GT). The study sites were the two coastal regions of Malang and Probolinggo in East Java, Indonesia, due to the meager socioeconomic resources caused by climate change. A probit regression model was used to determine the factors influencing the fishers’ adaptation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to evaluate the impact of the adaptation strategies on income and food security. Food security was measured by food consumption score (FCS). The findings indicated that participation in the fishers’ group affected adaptation strategies significantly, and so did the access to credit and climate information. Also, PSM showed that the adaptation strategies had a positive and significant impact on fishers’ income and food security. Those who applied the adaptation strategies had a higher income and FCS than those who did not. This finding implies that the fishery sector’s adaptation strategies can have significant expansion outcome and reduce exposure to risks posed by climate change. Therefore, the arrangement of more climate change adaptation strategies should be promoted by the government for small-scale fishers in Indonesia.


Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay M. Jaacks ◽  
Divya Veluguri ◽  
Rajesh Serupally ◽  
Aditi Roy ◽  
Poornima Prabhakaran ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on agricultural production, livelihoods, food security, and dietary diversity in India. Phone interview surveys were conducted by trained enumerators across 12 states and 200 districts in India from 3 to 15 May 2020. A total of 1437 farmers completed the survey (94% male; 28% 30–39 years old; 38% with secondary schooling). About one in ten farmers (11%) did not harvest in the past month with primary reasons cited being unfavorable weather (37%) and lockdown-related reasons (24%). A total of 63% of farmers harvested in the past month (primarily wheat and vegetables), but only 44% had sold their crop; 12% were still trying to sell their crop, and 39% had stored their crop, with more than half (55%) reporting lockdown-related issues as the reason for storing. Seventy-nine percent of households with wage-workers witnessed a decline in wages in the past month and 49% of households with incomes from livestock witnessed a decline. Landless farmers were about 10 times more likely to skip a meal as compared to large farmers (18% versus 2%), but a majority reported receiving extra food rations from the government. Nearly all farmers reported consuming staple grains daily in the past week (97%), 63% consumed dairy daily, 40% vegetables daily, 26% pulses daily, and 7% fruit daily. These values are much lower than reported previously for farmers in India around this time of year before COVID-19: 94–95% dairy daily, 57–58% pulses daily, 64–65% vegetables daily, and 42–43% fruit daily. In conclusion, we found that the COVID-19 lockdown in India has primarily impacted farmers’ ability to sell their crops and livestock products and decreased daily wages and dietary diversity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Adusei

Abstract The COVID-19 and partial lockdown has brought significant effects on the entire economy, especially on food security and job losses. This study was carried out in Asokwa Municipal with the objective of examining the impact of COVID-19 disease and its related lockdown on food and nutrition security and job losses. The study site form part of the cities in Ghana to experience the partial lockdown, hence it qualifies for the selection. Both primary and secondary data were used. By means of purposive sampling technique, fifty respondents were selected as sample size. The study employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive and narrative posture to the presentation, discussion and analysis of data. Open-ended questionnaire and a checklist were used for data collection through semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that, food and nutrition insecurity, job loss and income reductions are still very common, affecting participants livelihood. Disproportionally affected are households whose income comes from farming, transporters, informal labour, as well as marketers.It was concluded that food insecurity is not outside the impact of COVID-19 and its associated partial lockdown. Food and nutrition security are the global concern at present circumstances. The supply chain has been hit hardest by COVID-19, which causes food insecurity of most vulnerable segment of population which put them at risk. And also, most of the migrant, informal, seasonal farm workers were losing their jobs which may affect their demand for food. Therefore, the government should step-up the measures to control the pandemic without disturbing the food supply chain. The development and use of online marketing strategies where people can make orders of various produce and booked for purchases and or deliveries during a stated time range should be promoted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8753
Author(s):  
Maha Hoteit ◽  
Youssef Al-Atat ◽  
Hussein Joumaa ◽  
Suheir El Ghali ◽  
Rania Mansour ◽  
...  

This study aims to explore the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among Lebanese households since the ordeals of COVID-19, economic crisis, and Beirut port explosions. At the core of the study, a mobile application entitled Nutrition Assessment System (NAS) that simplified the data collection was used as toolkit and a technical test was carried out in all Lebanese governorates between November 2020 and March 2021. Findings show that food insecurity is an immediate problem for households in Beirut and in many governorates in Lebanon. Nine in every 16 households ate less than 2 meals per day and more than 70% of them skipped their meals to spare food. Even though half the population studied had a low food consumption score, 82.4% of the people were not relying on livelihood coping strategies. However, more than three out of ten of these households relied on at least three food-based coping strategies. In addition, as for the livelihoods, this assessment found that most Lebanese households reported a drop in income along with an expansion in debt incurrence in the last 24 months to be able to buy food. Improving food security in Lebanon requires effort not only on the part of the government, but through regional and international actions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 557-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Hyun Lee ◽  
Rabi H. Mohtar ◽  
Seung-Hwan Yoo

Abstract. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has the largest water deficit in the world. It also has the least food self-sufficiency. Increasing food imports and decreasing domestic food production can contribute to water savings and hence to increased water security. However, increased domestic food production is a better way to achieve food security, even if irrigation demands an increase in accordance with projected climate changes. Accordingly, the trade-off between food security and the savings of water and land through food trade is considered to be a significant factor for resource management, especially in the MENA region. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the impact of food trade on food security and water–land savings in the MENA region. We concluded that the MENA region saved significant amounts of national water and land based on the import of four major crops, namely, barley, maize, rice, and wheat, within the period from 2000 to 2012, even if the food self-sufficiency is still at a low level. For example, Egypt imported 8.3 million t yr−1 of wheat that led to 7.5 billion m3 of irrigation water and 1.3 million ha of land savings. In addition, we estimated the virtual water trade (VWT) that refers to the trade of water embedded in food products and analyzed the structure of VWT in the MENA region using degree and eigenvector centralities. The study revealed that the MENA region focused more on increasing the volume of virtual water imported during the period 2006–2012, yet little attention was paid to the expansion of connections with country exporters based on the VWT network analysis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Culas ◽  
Kimsong Tek

Purpose The paper presents food and nutritional status and relevant policy objectives that can sustain food security in Cambodia. This paper aims to review Cambodia’s food security situation over a period. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides an approach for selecting food security indicators in relation to both inputs and outcomes by drawing on a conceptual framework. National level data for the food security indicators are analysed over a period to provide trends in food and nutritional status. Findings Cambodia has not experienced drastic food insecurity yet, as most people are farmers and their livelihoods dependent on agriculture. Agriculture has maintained food availability in the country; however, there is a proportion of the population living in remote areas unable to obtain sufficient, safe, nutritious food. Landlessness, internal migration, rapid population growth, lack of education and skills, limited access to natural resources and agricultural land, poor health and infrastructure leave the people with inadequate employment opportunities, low capabilities and low productivity which in turn bring deeper poverty. Therefore, people are insecure, excluded and vulnerable to food deprivation. Practical implications To tackle the food security challenges, the Government of Cambodia focuses on food-based social safety nets in the sectors of education, nutrition and productive assets/livelihoods support, to enable longer-term, nationally owned food security solutions. Originality/value The paper draws conclusions using a range of recently proposed food security indicators and offers a perspective for policy formulation which may be of interest to development scholars and practitioners.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Arnati Wulansari

Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) is the impact of poor nutritional status of pregnant women. One of determining factors that influence the nutritional status is household food security. The purpose of this study was to determine household food security and incidence of CED in pregnant women’s Suku Anak Dalam in Bungku Village Batanghari Regency. This study used crossectional study design and using a total sampling of 31 pregnant women. Measuring instruments using questionnaires and CED measured using CUA ribbon and energy intake 2x24 hours measuredby recall. Data analysis were used univariate and bivariate (spearman test). The results showed that the majority of respondent experienced the risk of CED(67.7%). As many as 45.2% household experienced food shortages. Most of respondent who experienced food shortages also have risk of CED was 25.8%. The results showed an correlation between food security and risk of CED (P<0.05). 


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Said Nasuiton

Food security is inseparable from the factors of availability, quality, and affordability of food, where the condition of a country is able to meet the food needs of society ranging from families to individuals. This is in accordance with the contents of the latest Law number 18 of 2012 concerning Food which states that food security includes availability in quantity, quality, and affordability, the aim is to create a healthy, productive and sustainable life. This paper discusses how much influence the urban farming program as one of the government programs to achieve food security, especially family food. This research was conducted in several villages in five districts of Malang, namely Klojen, Suku, Lowokwaru, Blimbing, and Kedungkandang. The research method used in this paper is qualitative descriptive, with primary data collection techniques conducted by interviews and field observations. While secondary data collection is done by library and documentation techniques. Through the research conducted, the results show that this urban farming program has an influence on several points regarding food security contained in Law number 18 of 2012 including availability, quality, and affordability. Besides that, there are also locations that are less able to develop urban farming programs effectively, due to several obstacles encountered in implementing the program. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Fauzin Fauzin

The basic need that is needed by humans to fulfill their survival is food. Thus the basic needs in a country can be fulfilled by domestic products or foreign products which are commonly known as imports. Fulfilling this need for food is very important and strategic in order to maintain the sovereignty of the country, by not depending on food imports from developed countries. Law Number 18 of 2012 on Food, mandates the objectives of food administration, namely realizing food sovereignty, food self-sufficiency and food security. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the production and productivity of food commodities, especially strategic food in order to meet the needs of the community which are always increasing and directly proportional to the population. The method used is normative legal research.


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