Combining household and price data to target food marketing interventions in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the potential for policymakers in resource-constrained developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to combine household and food price data to design spatially targeted food marketing interventions. The focus country is Nigeria. Specifically, the empirical analysis for Kebbi state includes an investigation of production and consumption patterns among farm households to determine the extent to which production and consumption behavior varies across regions. Market-specific price data for crops commonly grown and consumed by these households were then used to identify whether and how prices have varied across spatially disparate markets over time. The results show that there are substantial differences in production and consumption behavior across households within Kebbi state. Additionally, price behavior for rice and millet, varied greatly for one market that had substantial regional production of these crops and is located outside of a main trade corridor. Hence, marketing interventions can be targeted to the more isolated market where households may face more risk of food insecurity due to production shortfalls or trade disruptions. These results show that household and price data can be combined to target food marketing interventions where they are needed most. Additionally, the analysis approach is useful for determining if general or market-specific interventions are more justifiable based on commonalities or differences across markets.