Top 8 Causes of Food Shortages in Nigeria

Causes of Food Shortages in Nigeria, an Overview.

Food shortage occurs when the quantity and quality of food produced in an area are insufficient to meet the needs of the people living in that geographical area.

Moreover, Food shortage ensues when the demand for food in an area exceeds the available supply, leading to importation, lower GDP, malnutrition, starvation, and death.

In recent times, there have been alarming issues of food scarcity in Nigeria occasioned by the recurrent incidents of floods, imbalance of the naira-to-dollar ratio, insecurity, bad road networks, and high-cost import duties.

The high costs of farm inputs to output rates have led to the utilization of little farm inputs on farms, which eventually leads to poorer farm outputs.

Subsistence farming is now widely practiced in a bid to produce food for immediate households due to insufficient capital to develop farms beyond the small level.

This lack of finance has reduced farmers’ interest in farming, thus leading to poor harvests that have caused lower food production.

The country’s ongoing food shortage has led to an increase in nutritional diseases and a decline in living standards. The sale of farm output during this period generates a significant amount of resources. However, the value of these resources is insignificant compared to the amount spent on purchasing other goods and even used in further production.

Several factors have led to the Causes of Food Shortages in Nigeria. these factors are classified into physical and biological factors, sociocultural influences, and political-economic forces.

Factors that Cause of Food Shortages in Nigeria

Due to food shortages in Nigeria, crops are being imported and substituted for others leading to reduced export earnings.

The small size of many Nigerian farms contributes to food shortages. Insufficient food production has affected government policy and farmers, despite their efforts to increase production.

Some of the Causes of Food Shortages in Nigeria are:

Poor Storage and Preservation Facilities

Storage and preservation facilities such as silos and cold storage are not available in most localities.

In areas where there are silos and cold storage, there is often no access to electricity to power appliances. Unfortunately, many types of agricultural produce like cassava, yam, tomatoes, fish, and meat are perishable.

Consequently, due to the lack of storage facilities, a significant amount of these perishable agricultural products are lost.

In regions where food crops are abundant, a significant amount of the produce gets lost due to inadequate storage facilities. Farmers often lack the technical know-how required to operate storage facilities such as silos and cold storage, which results in wastage of a large portion of their produce.

Poor Transportation

Food crops in Nigeria are mainly produced in rural communities. However, due to the distance between these communities and urban areas, it becomes challenging to transport these food crops to the cities.

The road leading to some of these communities is in poor condition, making it difficult to transport produce to the market. This results in the wastage of agricultural produce. Also, very few or no vehicles are using this road which could help to transport crops produced in the rural area to urban areas.

Transportation costs are typically high in areas where specialized vehicles are required. For example, in Nigeria, many farms located in river line areas are not connected to urban centers by road or bridge. This lack of infrastructure leads to wasted produce as it cannot be transported efficiently to market.

Lack of finances or Credit Facilities

In Nigeria, lack of finances or access to credit facilities is a major cause of food shortages. Most of the farmers in the country are peasant farmers who don’t have access to credit facilities to expand their farms.

These farmers’ lands are not surveyed and they lack certificates of occupancy that can serve as collateral security to obtain loans for farm expansion.

Moreover, farmers in rural areas often don’t keep proper farm records, which makes it difficult for them to secure loans. To address this issue, loan givers can consider issuing loans to farmers, enabling them to source finance to purchase farm inputs and expand their food production.

Even when microfinance and other sources of capital issue loans to farmers, some default on payments, complicating credit expansion for farming.

Poor Harvesting Methods

In Nigeria, the demand for food is high. However, many farmers harvest their crops before they reach full maturity due to this demand, which ultimately results in reduced productivity.

Harvesting crops prematurely is another causes of food shortages because many of these crops will go to waste.

Conversely, late harvesting can lead to spoilage or rotting of the crops, also causing food shortages.

Unfortunately, some of the methods used by rural farmers to harvest their crops result in the loss of their crops, which further exacerbates the issue of food shortages.

Lack of Processing Techniques

Most modern processing facilities require specialized techniques to operate, which many farmers lack.

Some of the machines require special energy to operate, and they are not designed to be gender-friendly.

Additionally, the available facilities require electricity, but due to epileptic power supply, farmers resort to purchasing energy sources such as premium motor spirit and automotive gas oil, which leads to a high cost of production.

Furthermore, most of the machines used in processing are expensive and out of reach for many farmers.

The techniques required to operate these machines are also lacking among farmers, leading to food shortages in Nigeria.

Negative Perception about Farming

In Nigeria, only a few individuals are involved in the food production system due to the negative perception of people about farming.

Farming is considered to be an occupation for the poor, downtrodden, and less privileged individuals. People associate farming with the elderly living in rural areas and view it as a dirty and useless profession.

Even farmers themselves are not proud to identify as farmers because of the poor image attached to the profession.

In contrast, in some countries, farming is considered the best profession. This negative perception of farming limits people from venturing into agriculture in Nigeria, resulting in food shortages.

Natural incidences

Natural disasters such as floods, droughts, bushfires, earthquakes, etc. can cause food shortages.

In Nigeria, floods have caused immense damage in recent times, washing away crops, poultry, and fish ponds in various towns and villages.

Almost every year, there are reports of floods in different places, causing the loss of millions of agricultural produce.

Additionally, farmers sometimes set bushes on fire while hunting or farming, which can destroy other farmers’ crops and animals and lead to food shortages.

Climate change has also contributed to food shortages by disrupting the rainy and dry seasons and delaying the planting and harvesting seasons.

Land Tenure System

This is another that may Cause Food Shortages in Nigeria. The way land ownership is structured in Nigeria is one of the factors that can lead to food shortages.

The current system often discourages commercial farming, which means that farmers end up producing only enough food for their own families, with little or no surplus for sale.

Inheritance, communal, and individual land ownership patterns all contribute to limiting food production.

Most farmers in Nigeria rely on a continuous cropping system, which often leads to soil infertility.

Due to a lack of knowledge and skills in replenishing lost nutrients, this affects overall food production, leading to food scarcity in households. This, in turn, results in hunger, lack of capital, and reduced revenues.

Frequently Ask Questions

What are the three causes of food shortages?

Food shortage is caused by several factors that can be classified into three categories according to the United Nations University.

These categories are physical and biological factors, political and economic factors, and social and cultural factors.

Physical and biological factors: Several factors affect the growth and productivity of food, including climate, soil, seed quality, diseases, and pests. Physical and biological processes can lead to a severe decline in food production worldwide. Climate parameters such as temperature, rainfall, wind, and relative humidity can have adverse effects on food growth. Temperature, in particular, can determine the germination of cultivated crops. Extreme temperatures during the farming season may cause heat stress, leading to the death of crops and animals. Certain crops can fail to grow properly due to high temperatures. In addition, high temperatures can negatively impact the performance of working animals and the microbial activity involved in the breakdown of organic matter, both of which can have significant effects on food production. Rainfall is also a crucial factor that determines the timing of the farming season. In sub-Saharan Africa, rainfall patterns can greatly affect crop cultivation on an annual basis. In West African countries, seasons are determined by rainfall. There are rainy and dry seasons for crop production. However, excessive rainfall can lead to soil erosion and floods, which can wash away cultivated crops and fish, causing serious food shortages. Some West African countries experience rainfall for six months, three months, and five months, which means that food production is completely halted for the remaining months, leading to serious food shortages in these areas. Extreme weather conditions can cause lodging and mechanical injuries to crops, such as loss of leaves, branches, flowers, and fruits. In dry regions, high wind velocity can also lead to serious soil erosion. These climatic parameters have a significant impact on food production worldwide. Global climate change has caused significant variations in regional cropping patterns. Soil factors such as fertility, structure, texture, and pH level have a significant impact on food production. These soil characteristics can adversely affect the quality and quantity of crops harvested. Poor soil texture and structure can hinder crop germination and growth, while infertile soil reduces crop yield, leading to food shortages. Similarly, soil with an unfavorable pH level can cause the death of crops. Therefore, maintaining optimal soil conditions is crucial in ensuring successful food production. Pests and diseases have a significant impact on food production and often lead to serious food shortages. When pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses infect crops and animals, they destroy crops and reduce yields.
social and cultural Factors: The Land tenure system, water control, Labour, and Dietary preferences are factors that have far-reaching implications on food production. The system of land ownership greatly affects food production. Certain methods of land ownership, commonly practiced in sub-Saharan Africa, such as inheritance and individual purchase, limit the availability of land for commercial agriculture. In Nigeria, various farming methods are practiced including land, individual, and inheritance farming. However, these methods have reduced the availability of land for commercial agriculture, leading to subsistence farming and limited food production for export..The availability of labor and farm machinery is directly influenced by the amount of capital that farmers have access to. The financial capacity of farmers determines how much land they can rent, clear, cultivate, and harvest, as well as the number of animals they can rear. The availability of affordable labor in agricultural production is influenced by the economic situation of the farmers. Cultivating crops and raising farm animals require both labor and capital. However, due to the limited economic resources of most farmers, especially those at the subsistence level, they rely mostly on family labor. This often results in a reduced size of cultivated land and a lower number of reared animals, which in turn leads to food shortages.
Political and Economic Factors: Inadequate incentives for food production, trade and import restrictions, structural adjustments, and food aid are some of the factors that contribute to food scarcity around the world. Despite the efforts of some governments to ensure food sufficiency, the risk of food shortages remains high. Unfortunately, many government programs established to increase food production have yielded little or no results. In Nigeria and other West African countries, the agricultural programs initiated by past and present administrations have not produced significant results. Food insufficiency has increased despite these efforts. Additionally, the decision to import most food in Nigeria as a means of encouraging local production has backfired, causing more harm than good.

What is the leading cause of severe food shortages?

There are various reasons why there is a global food shortage. The production of food for both humans and animals has decreased.

Determining the main causes of food shortage is complex and can vary by country.

The leading causes of severe food shortages are Climate change, war, and conflict. which are discussed in detail on physical and biological factors, sociocultural influences, and political-economic forces.

What are the 6 factors that can cause food insecurity?

Six factors can impact food security. These are climate change, war and conflict, outbreaks of pests and diseases, natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, and tornados), trade and import constraints, and soil factors such as soil fertility and pH levels.

Climate change: The following are the major factors that have caused significant food shortages around the world. Climate changes have altered the way crops are grown and animals are raised in different regions, leading to the emergence of new pests and crop and livestock diseases. Additionally, crop failures, and natural calamities such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and droughts have resulted in significant food production threats, leading to severe food shortages.
War and conflict: The second factor that leads to food shortage is war and conflict, which has a significant economic impact. During times of war and crisis, there are widespread shortages of food due to the disruption of production and processing activities. Producers, processors, and suppliers of goods and services stop all activities as they fear for their lives and properties. This leads to a shortage of food and other essential products.
Outbreak of pests and diseases: The third factor that contributes to food shortage in Nigeria and other parts of the world is severe outbreaks of certain pests. Pests such as the wide locust, variegated grasshopper, weevil, caterpillar, lice, ticks, and others can attack crops and animals, reducing their yield and market value.
Natural disaster: This is the fourth factor that can cause severe food shortages: natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. These disasters are unpredictable and can pose serious risks to food production. Almost every year, one country or another is affected by these natural disasters.
Trade and import constraint: Trade and import policies of some countries contribute to food shortages. In some cases, regulations and rules governing food importation hinder the availability of food. For instance, Nigeria has banned the importation of essential food items such as rice and frozen chicken, while tariffs on food crops have increased.
Soil factors: Soil fertility and pH levels play a crucial role in determining food availability. Infertile soil lacks the essential nutrients that are necessary for plant growth and development. Additionally, the acidity or alkalinity level of soil also has an impact on crop growth. Crops cannot flourish when grown on highly acidic or alkaline soil. Therefore, extreme acidity and alkalinity can lead to food shortages.

What are the health problems caused by food shortages?

Some of the health problems caused by food shortages are

Ulcer: this refers to an injury or sore on the upper part of the digestive tract, often caused by a food shortage-related problem. Typically, it occurs as a result of a sore on the lining of the stomach or small intestine when food is not available at the right time. There are two main types of ulcers: peptic and gastric ulcers. Symptoms of an ulcer may include stomach pain, back pain, bloating, and a feverish feeling.
Hypertension: A severe food shortage can lead to hypertension as individuals constantly worry about the availability of their next meal.
Several health issues: Food shortages can result in health issues, including premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, and maternal death.
Kwashiorkor: In situations where good quality food is not available, people tend to eat whatever is at hand, even if it means compromising their balanced diet. This can lead to a scarcity of protein in the diet. Children who consume less protein might suffer from a condition called Kwashiorkor, which is characterized by nutrient deficiency diseases.
Marasmus: Marasmus is a health problem that can be caused by food shortage. Similar to Kwashiorkor, it occurs as a result of a deficiency of protein and energy in human feed. If left untreated, chronic marasmus can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, lack of energy, dehydration, stomach problems, and weight loss.
Anemia. This health problem is caused by inadequate nutrition. It is prevalent in West Africa and other Sub-Saharan African regions. The ailment arises when there are insufficient red blood cells to transport energy throughout the body. Symptoms may include fatigue, general body weakness, and in severe cases may lead to death.
Other include poor oral health, and chronic conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders

In conclusion

Food shortage is a significant issue that affects many countries, including Nigeria. In most countries, the quality of available food is inadequate to provide the necessary nutrients for the normal functioning of the body.

However, a lack of access to nutritious food leads to high levels of nutritional diseases. Some of the Causes of food shortages in Nigeria include negative perceptions about farming, natural disasters, the land tenure system, a lack of processing technologies, and poor harvest.