COVID-19 and Idiosyncratic Food Dearth Risk Resilience in Nigeria

WP at Journal of Studies in Agricultural Economics July, 2020 ISSN (Electronic) 2063-0476

19 Pages Posted: 5 Jul 2020

See all articles by Idowu Oladeji Ojo

Idowu Oladeji Ojo

Department of Agricultural Economics

Date Written: July 5, 2020

Abstract

This study examined the interplay of COVID-19 and Idiosyncratic Food Dearth Risk Resilience in
Nigeria; focusing on Oyo State as case study. A multistage sampling technique was used to elicit primary
data from 210 rural crop farmers in the study area using a semi-structured questionnaire. CARE and WFP
Household Coping Strategy Index (CSI) and Factor analysis were used to determine level of household
resilience for food security in the study area. Likert scale was used to examine the idiosyncratic coping
strategies adopted by the respondents against food dearth related risks during the COVID-19 Pandemic in
Nigeria. Findings showed that 8 out of every 10 respondents do not have access to palliative stimulus
packages from the Federal or Oyo state Government to impair the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Out
of the sampled households, only 35.71%, 32.38% and 31.90% had mild, moderate and severe resilience for
food security respectively during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the study area. Results revealed that the
households differ in socio-economic characteristics by their resilience level to food insecurity and that the
idiosyncratic coping strategies of households against food dearth related shocks include relying on less
preferred food, borrowing food, buying food on credit, allowing household members to eat elsewhere,
begging for food, limiting portion of food, and restricting adult at meal. The study concluded that policies
that underpin expansion of near-real time food security monitoring systems to provide timely, improved
and geospatially indicative data to measure the pandemic’s unfolding effects and understand better farmers
that are suffering from hunger and malnutrition and where they are. It suggested that food and nutrition
assistance needs to be at the heart of Government social protection programs and laying the foundation
for a more inclusive, green, and resilient recovery by ensuring COVID-19 dedicated resources are used in
a “build to transform” approach and are evidence-based with emphasis on women and children.

Keywords: Food Security, Idiosyncratic, COVID-19, Resilience, Nigeria

JEL Classification: Q12, Q18

Suggested Citation

Ojo, Idowu Oladeji, COVID-19 and Idiosyncratic Food Dearth Risk Resilience in Nigeria (July 5, 2020). WP at Journal of Studies in Agricultural Economics July, 2020 ISSN (Electronic) 2063-0476, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3643829 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3643829

Idowu Oladeji Ojo (Contact Author)

Department of Agricultural Economics ( email )

University of Ibadan
Ibadan, ID Oyo State 10001
Nigeria

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