Determinants of Food Insecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: A Random Effects Ordered Probit Approach
Keywords:
COVID-19; Food Insecurity; Random Effects; Ordered Probit Regression; NigeriaAbstract
COVID-19 is reversing the global development progresses already attained over the past few decades. Attainment of zero hunger in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is being threatened and comprehensive approach in managing the pandemic is required. This paper analyzed the determinants of food insecurity status during COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The data were the second, fourth and seventh rounds of COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (NLPS) that were carried out in June, August and November 2020 respectively. Food insecurity status was computed with questions on Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and analyzed with Random Effects Ordered Probit Regression. The results showed that food security improved from 12.19% in June to 24.65% in November. There was a decline in the percentage of severely food insecure households in urban areas from 54.67% in June to 44.53% in November while that in rural areas declined from 60.69% in June to 45.34% in November. The Panel Probit regression showed presence of significant heterogeneity across the panels. Also, age, household size, male, tertiary education, North West residence, public administrator, business or traders and construction job showed statistical significance (p<0.05) with negative sign, while social assistance (p<0.05) has positive sign. Nonperception of COVID-19 risk based on morbidity tendency and financial impacts significantly reduced food insecurity (p<0.01). It was concluded that interventions to address COVID-19 pandemic must critically evaluate their welfare impacts given absence of effective social assistance and must take cognizance of households’ vulnerability to hunger with focus on female headed households, illiterates, unemployed and youths.
References
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Okaisabor, J.O. (2021), Public Policies Against Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: Challenges, Effects, and Perceptions’, Journal of Public Administration and Social Welfare Research Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 16-28.
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Reagan HA (2018). Measuring Food Insecurity Experience Scale (Fies) In Indonesia. Retrieved from: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/meetings/sdg-inter-workshop-june-2018/Day3_Session8_Indonesia_update.pdf, date: 06/09/2021.
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Tibesigwa, B. & Visser, M. (2016). Assessing Gender Inequality in Food Security among Small-holder Farm Households in Urban and Rural South Africa. World Development, Vol. 88, pp. 33–49.
Udmale, P., Pal, I., Szabo, S., Pramanik, M. & Large, A. (2020). Global Food Security in the Context of COVID-19: A Scenario-Based Exploratory Analysis. Prog Disaster Sci. Vol. 7, 100120. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.pdisas.2020.100120
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World Bank. 2014. Nigeria Agriculture and Rural Poverty : A Policy Note. Washington, DC. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/19324 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
World Food Programme (WFP) (2021). WFP At A Glance. Available at: https://www.wfp.org/stories/wfp-glance, date: 06/09/2021.
Adebowale, A.S., Fagbamigbe, A.F., Akinyemi, J.O., Obisesan, K.O., Awosanya, E.J., Afolabi, R.F., Alarape, S.A. & Obabiyi, S.O. Situation Assessment and Natural Dynamics of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria, 31 May 2020. Scientific African. Vol. 12, e00844. doi: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00844.
Amusan, L., & Agunyai, S. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis of lockdowns in Nigeria: The household food security perspective. Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, doi:https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v9i1.484
Babatunde, R., Omotesho, O., Olorunsanya, E.& Owotoki, G. (2008). Determinants of Vulnerability to Food Insecurity: A Genderbased Analysis of Farming Households in Nigeria. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 63, pp. 1–10.
Ballard, T.J., Kepple, A.W. & Cafiero, C. (2013). The Food Insecurity Experience Scale Development of a Global Standard for Monitoring Hunger Worldwide. Retrieved online https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ess/voh/FIES_Technical_Paper_v1.1.pdf , date: 15/10/2021.
Bibi, S. (2020). Gender Disparities and CEDAW: A Case of Pakistan, RMC Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 16-24
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (2021). Inflation Rates (Percent). Retrieved online https://www.cbn.gov.ng/rates/inflrates.asp, date: 24/08/2021.
Despard, M., Chun Y., & Roll, S. (2020). COVID-19 Job and Income Loss Leading to More Hunger and Financial Hardship. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/07/13/covid-19-job-and-income-loss-leading-to-more-hunger-and-financial-hardship/, date: 15/10/2021.
Dixit, S., Ogundeji, Y.K., & Onwujekwe, O. (2020). How Well Has Nigeria Responded to COVID-19? Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2020/07/02/how-well-has-nigeria-responded-to-covid-19/, date: 16/10/2021.
Eranga, I.O. (2020). COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: Palliative Measures and the Politics of Vulnerability. International Journal of MCH AIDS. Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 220-222. doi: 10.21106/ijma.394.
Ezirigwe, J., Ojike, C., Amechi, E. & Adewopo, A. (2021). ‘COVID-19/Food Insecurity Syndemic’: Navigating the Realities of Food Security Imperatives of Sustainable Development Goals in Africa. Law and Development Review, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 129-162. https://doi.org/10.1515/ldr-2020-0071.
FAO (1996). Rome Declaration on World Food Security. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 13 November 1996.
FAO, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), WFP (World Food Programme) and WHO (World Health Organization). (2019). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in The World 2019: Safeguarding Against Economic Slowdowns and Downturns. Rome: FAO.
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2021). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in The World 2021. Transforming Food Systems for Food Security, Improved Nutrition and Affordable Healthy Diets For All. Rome, FAO. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4474en, date: 06/09/2021
Felker-Kantor, E. & Wood, C.H. (2012). Female-Headed Households and Food Insecurity in Brazil. Food Security. Vol. 4, pp. 607- 617.
Joseph-Raji, Gloria Aitalohi; Saldarriaga Noel, Miguel Angel; et al (2021). Resilience through Reforms. Nigeria Development Update Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. Retrieved from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/389281623682704986/Resilience-through-Reforms, date: 06/09/2021
IMF (2020). Nigeria: Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument. International Monetary Fund Country Report No. 20/142, Washington, D.C. 20090
Lawal, O. & Kalu, I.E. (2018). Measuring Geographic Distribution of Economic Activity in Nigeria Using Gross Domestic Product. Ghana Journal of Geography Vol.10, No. 1, pp. 22–41 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v10i1.2
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2018). Labor Force Statistics - Volume I: Unemployment and Underemployment Report (Q4 2017-Q3 2018). Retrieved from https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/856, date: 15/10/2021.
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2021). Nigeria COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (COVID-19 NLPS) 2020. Dataset Retrieved from https://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/3712/get-microdata, date: 05/06/2021.
Okaisabor, J.O. (2021), Public Policies Against Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: Challenges, Effects, and Perceptions’, Journal of Public Administration and Social Welfare Research Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 16-28.
Olurounbi R. (2021). Nigeria Unemployment Rate Rises to 33%, Second Highest on Global List. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-15/nigeria-unemployment-rate-rises-to-second-highest-on-global-list , date: 15/10/2021.
Pereira M, Oliveira AM. Poverty and food insecurity can increase as threats of COVID-19 spreads [Internet]. Public Health Nutrition. Cambridge University Press; 2020. p. 3236. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S1368980020003493
Reagan HA (2018). Measuring Food Insecurity Experience Scale (Fies) In Indonesia. Retrieved from: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/meetings/sdg-inter-workshop-june-2018/Day3_Session8_Indonesia_update.pdf, date: 06/09/2021.
Shahbaz, P., Haq, S.U., Khalid, U.B. & Boz, I. (2021). Gender-Based Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Household Diet Diversity and Nutritional Security in Pakistan", British Food Journal, https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-05-2021-0464
Singh, D.R., Sunuwar, D.R., Shah, S.K., Sah, L.K., Karki, K. & Sah, R.K. (2021). Food Insecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Genuine Concern for People From Disadvantaged Community and Low-Income Families in Province 2 of Nepal. PLoS ONE Volume 16, No. 7: e0254954. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0254954
Singh, D.R., Sunuwar, D.R., Adhikari, B., Szabo, S. & Padmadas, S.S. (2020). The Perils of COVID-19 in Nepal: Implications for Population Health and Nutritional Status. Journal of Global Health, Vol. 10: 1-4. https://doi.org/10.7189/ jogh.10.010378
StataCorp (2013). Stata: Release 13. Statistical Software. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP, USA.
Tibesigwa, B. & Visser, M. (2016). Assessing Gender Inequality in Food Security among Small-holder Farm Households in Urban and Rural South Africa. World Development, Vol. 88, pp. 33–49.
Udmale, P., Pal, I., Szabo, S., Pramanik, M. & Large, A. (2020). Global Food Security in the Context of COVID-19: A Scenario-Based Exploratory Analysis. Prog Disaster Sci. Vol. 7, 100120. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.pdisas.2020.100120
United Nations (2020). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020. Retrieved from https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2020/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2020.pdf date: 06/09/2021.
Verpoorten, M., Arora, A., Stoop, N. & Swinnen, J. (2013). Self-Reported Food Insecurity in Africa During the Food Price Crisis. Food Policy, Vol. 39, pp. 51–63.
World Bank (2020a). Nigeria Development Update: Nigeria in Times of COVID-19: Laying Foundations for a Strong Recovery. Washington DC: World Bank. Retrieved from https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documentsreports/documentdetail/695491593024516552/nigeria-in-times-of-covid-19-laying-foundationsfor-a-strong-recovery, date: 05/08/2021.
World Bank (2020b). The Impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) On Global Poverty: Why Sub-Saharan Africa Might Be the Region Hardest Hit. Data Blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/impact-COVID-19-coronavirus-global-povertywhy-sub-saharan-africa-might-be-region-hardest, date: 08/09/2021.
World Bank (2020). Nigeria COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey, Federal Republic of Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics Abuja,
World Bank (2021). Food Security and COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-and-covid-19, date: 09/09/2021
World Bank. 2014. Nigeria Agriculture and Rural Poverty : A Policy Note. Washington, DC. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/19324 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
World Food Programme (WFP) (2021). WFP At A Glance. Available at: https://www.wfp.org/stories/wfp-glance, date: 06/09/2021.
Published
2021-10-26
How to Cite
Oyekale, T. O., & Oyekale, A. (2021). Determinants of Food Insecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: A Random Effects Ordered Probit Approach : Array. Acta Universitatis Danubius. Œconomica, 17(6). Retrieved from https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/AUDOE/article/view/1389
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Business Administration and Business Economics
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