Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security: Building Bridges Between Durable Agricultural Practices and Markets
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The major objective of the study was to determine the sustainable food and nutrition security: Building bridges between durable agricultural practices and markets. The specific objectives were to:
- determine the food security status, in terms of food availability, food accessibility and food consumption pattern and the nutritional status of the low-income households of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state,
- establish the anthropometric measurement and nutritional status of the low- income households of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state,
- evaluate the poverty alleviation coping strategies used by households and food security of the low-income households of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state, Nigeria.
- determine the environment and health status and nutritional status of the low- income families of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state,
- establish the relationship between food security and nutritional status of the low- income households of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state,
- examine the income and nutritional status of the low income households of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state and its relationship to food.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Theoretical Framework
Theoretical framework is a process of identifying a core set of connectors within a topic and it shows how these fit together or related to the subject (McGroff, 2012). It involves pulling thoughts and theories that are grouped together into themes for a subject. Looking at these explanations, a single theory cannot therefore exhaust a phenomenon of food security. Use of many theories is needed for a purpose where the researcher is interested in a greater number of aspects than is covered by the concept. This is applicable to the theoretical framework of food security. As a multi-dimensional concept, the International Famine Centre (2000) recommended that to have a holistic framework of food security, it must incorporate economics, politics, cultural and social relations. To this effect, two models and four approaches that will be for complementary analytical purposes were used in this study.
The first model; Human Right Perspective was developed by Oshaug, Eide and Eide (1992). It was borrowed from a text Food, Nutrition and Human Rights, while the approaches include; food availability approach, income-based approach, basic needs approach, and sustainable livelihood approach. The human right perspective to food security is a wide perspective that has several legal instruments of United Nations with its agencies and national legislation of some countries. It compasses a broader view of economic, social and cultural rights of people (households). This was a theoretical framework that developed based on a range of general ideas or opinions and experiences with development processes in developing and developed countries. It is an accepted theory because of its relevance in viewing food security through wider ideas particularly as a human development model and because perspective to food security.
The human rights perspective that became applicable in explaining the issue of Food Security emerged in development literature from 1941 “Four Freedom Address” by the then president of United States of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The four freedoms as declared were; freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of speech and freedom of faith. These four freedoms which strongly influenced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948 included the right to food within the freedom from want (Bassey, 2002). It is from freedom from want that the idea or opinion of the framework is derived. This general opinion is captured by Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1986). It statement:
“Everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing medical care and necessary social services and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control”.
Additionally, article II of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights states that:
The state parties of the present covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family (household), including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Research design is a plan or blue prints of the research adopted to gather data in order to answer the research questions (Ajayi, 2000). A descriptive survey design was used to obtain data in this study. Descriptive survey method is suitable to the study because it involves a systematic collection of data or information from a population or a sample of the population through the use of questionnaire, interview as recommended by (Afolabi, 1993; Ajayi and Bello, 2000). Therefore descriptive research approach was adopted by the researcher to collect data because it involves collection and analysis of large data and information through questionnaire and interviews.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION
Analysis of Demographic Factors Variables of Respondents
The demographic factor data was carried out in order to gather personal information on the low-income households of selected Federal Tertiary Institutions of Kaduna State.
Table 4.1.1: Distribution Of Households Head According To Institution Place Of Work
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study was designed to evaluate the sustainable food and nutrition security: Building bridges between durable agricultural practices and markets. Specific objectives of the study were to determine food security status using food availability, food accessibility and consumption pattern of low-income households, establish anthropometric measurement and their nutritional status; evaluate poverty alleviation strategies adopted; determine the environment and health conditions and examine income and how it affects their nutritional status. Survey research design was used to obtain data to the study. The population includes seven Federal tertiary institutions in Kaduna State with 1550 household heads. Multistage stratified sampling method was used to select sample size of 230 household heads. Sampling was done in stages. Purposive sampling method was used to select Kaduna State out of the 36 states in Nigeria, seven institutions and their sample sizes. Structured questionnaire, personal interview, anthropometric measurement and twenty-four-hour recall dietary intake were instruments used to collect data. Data collected were analyzed based on the objectives of the study.
Findings from data analyzed indicated that food security status of the low-income households were adequate with legumes and vegetables. Cereals and cereal products were accessed daily and they consumed grains (cereals) more often than any other food groups.
Analysis of data showed a significant relationship that existed between anthropometric measurement and nutritional status of low income households. The children’s height-for-age and weight-for-age was above reference population, mid-upper-arm circumference of children and adult indicators were of healthy category. Results of analysis also revealed that skin fold result was excellent for both children, adult male and female while the body mass index of adult were of healthy category for both male and female. Finding of food frequency dietary intake showed that the eating occasion of low-income household during morning and evening dominated with family members always present. Analysis also showed that household members consumed food between 6-7.30am during morning meal, 11.30-12noon for mid-morning and 1-2.30pm during lunch and 6-7pm during evening meals. Results on the types of food used during preparation showed that household consumed more of kuka soup and tuwon masara during lunch and dinners. Adopted acceptable forms of cooking methods (boiled, stewed, cooked, stewed and fried) were appropriate. Samples showed maize flour, okro, semovita, milk, tea, vegetables, tomatoes, onion and pepper were ingredients used more. Between 150-200g of food materials was cooked. It can therefore be concluded that the samples from 24hrs recall dietary intake and types of food consumed revealed that low-income households of Federal tertiary institutions of Kaduna State had good dietary intake which means good nutritional status.
Results of samples from poverty alleviation strategies used by low income families significantly alleviated conditions of respondents to stabilize their food security. This was shown from the strategies they adopted; such as crop production, back yard gardening, vegetable production, skill acquisition trainings and hectares of land acquired. We can therefore conclude that poverty alleviation strategies used helped to improve their food security status.
Findings from the study showed significant relationship between income and nutritional status of respondents. Household members with high income had higher nutritional status than the lower income households. It can therefore be concluded that higher income is necessary to improve the nutritional status of low-income households of Federal tertiary institutions in Kaduna state.
Conclusion
Conclusions from findings of the study therefore, were that households in Federal tertiary institutions had adequate availability of legumes/vegetables, fruits, roots/tubers and cereals, accessed and consumed more cereals and cereals products. They however had low access and consumed little of animal protein. The low-income households were therefore food secured in legumes/vegetables, fruits and cereal. Also, the low-income households‟ nutritional status were adequate using anthropometric measurements of children: height-for age and weight-for age, children and adults mid-upper arm circumference and skin fold, adults body mass index assessments.
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