Household ICT Utilization and Food Security Nexus in Nigeria.

Jeremiah O Ejemeyovwi,Romanus Osabohien,Bosede Ngozi Adeleye,Tyrone De Alwis,Edna Amante

doi:10.1155/2021/5551363

Jeremiah O Ejemeyovwi, Romanus Osabohien + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5551363

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Abstract

The study examines the nexus between household ICT utilization and food security in Nigeria, which supports goal 2 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aims to “end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” The study employs the logit regression to wave 4 of Living Standard Measurement Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMS) data for the empirical analysis. Based on the analysis, the study finds that for male household, ICT utilization has a statistically significant and positive nexus with food security. In contrast, for the female households, an insignificant and, however, negative nexus is observed with food security in Nigeria. Furthermore, the findings show that for male household users, a 1 percent increase in male household ICT utilization spurs about 0.68 percent increase in food security in Nigeria. The findings imply that among the male and female household ICT users, the male household ICT utilization is significantly contributes to food security in Nigeria. The study recommends that relevant stakeholders take strategic measures to ensure that the potentials of household ICTs be fully maximized to contribute to food security in the nearest future as confirmed by studies in other regions.

Highlights

Food security according to the United Nations [1] refers to a state of wellbeing whereby the citizens of an economy have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food which meets the food requirements and dietary needs to gain active and healthy life
Aligning with goal 2 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, to “end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture,” this study is motivated by the apparent gap in literature and the need to investigate the household Information and communication technology (ICT) utilization and food security nexus in Nigeria
Using the World Bank Living Standard Measurement Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMS) survey data and the logit regression technique, findings reveal that ICT utilization by male farming households in Nigeria plays a statistically significant role on food security, while for the female households, an insignificant and, negative nexus is observed with food security in Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Food security according to the United Nations [1] refers to a state of wellbeing whereby the citizens of an economy have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food which meets the food requirements and dietary needs to gain active and healthy life. Food can have a significant impact on the human body, and the term “food security” has become a part and parcel of all aspects of life (Food and Agricultural Organisation [2, 3]). Agriculture has been established to be a major source of livelihood in Nigeria [5, 6]. It is a means of livelihood for about 70% of the total labor force, accounting for about two-fifth of Nigeria’s gross domestic product-GDP [7]. Given the level of involvement of majority of the labor force, food security is expected to not be an issue for and country like Nigeria but on the contrary, for many African countries, Nigeria inclusive, there is high prevalence of undernutrition and food insecurity at both the national and household levels [5]

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