ABSTRACT
This study was conducted basically to determine the effect
of the National Programme on Food Security (NPFS) on output/food product. Its
specific objectives include identifying how the NPFS has helped in increasing
output and the problems associated with the NPFS. The main instrument for the
collection of primary data is the questionnaire. Data were collected from 72
farmers selected through a combination of cluster and random sampling
techniques, from a population of about 7290 farmers constituting the farmers in
Anambra state presently benefitting from the NPFS. Data were analysed with
frequencies, simple percentages, tables, descriptive and inferential
statistics, and regression analysis. The regression analysis was used to
determine the variables that accounted for increase in output. The model used
in the regression is Y1 = α + β1x1
+ β2x2 ... + β11x11 +
e i .where Y is the output which is the dependent
variable, x1 x2 x3...x n are the
independent variables representing the socio-economic characteristics of the
farmers and the various services provided by the NPFS. Chi square was used in
testing the hypothesis. The result shows that the NPFS has significantly
increased food production/output. The researcher thereby recommends that more
NPFS demonstration sites be established and also that the services provided by
the NPFS should be made more adequate and accessible to the farmers.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
Several attempts have been made towards ensuring food
security. Some of these attempts are in the form of programmes designed to help
increase or boost food production. Some of these programmes have gone moribund
while some are still operational. The National Programme on Food Security
(NPFS) is one of such programmes. It is government’s effort targeted at
increasing food production. Its major objective is improving, enhancing and
ensuring maximum food security.
The origin of this programme could be traced to November
1996 when Nigeria participated in world food summit. As one of the Low Income
Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCS), she requested for assistance under the United
Nations’ (UN) Food and Agricultural Organisations’ (FAO) Special Programme on
Food Security (SPFS). A tripartite participatory review of beneficiary
communities was held in Nigeria which resulted to a pilot phase of the Special
Programme on Food Security (SPFS) being conducted in Kano state in March 1998.
(ASADEP NSPFS Internal Implementation Completion Report ICR-Revised Jan 2007).
As a follow up to the success story of the SPFS pilot phase
in Kano state, the SPFS was extended with the aim of initiating pilot actions
in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. At this
stage the special programme on food security (SPFS) became known as the
National Special Programme on Food Security (NSPFS). The NSPFS funded three
production/ demonstration sites in each of the 36 states and one site for the
Federal Capital Territory, bringing the total to 109 sites in the Federation.
(ASADEP NSPFS Internal Implementation Completion Report ICR-Revised Jan 2007)
In Anambra state, the three sites were located one each in
the three senatorial districts in the state. They were at Amansea, Igbariam and
Ogboji for Anambra Central, Anambra North and Anambra South Senatorial
districts respectively.
The need to improve small holder productivity and the
importance of sustainable agriculture for food security among other things led
to the further expansion of the NSPFS. Under this phase, six additional sites
were established in all the 36 states and two additional ones in the FCT. In
Anambra state the additional sites were created in Ekwusigo, Nnewi, Nteje,
Agulu, Ukwulu and Omasi. Two sites were created for each of the senatorial
districts. Under this expansion phase, the programme became known as the
National Programme on Food Security (NPFS)
The NPFS provides for grass root farmer mobilization and
empowerment through the group approach. In order words, farmers are encouraged
to organise themselves in groups to be able to access the funds/ loans and
other assistance provided by the NPFS.
The NPFS recognises the importance of cooperatives to
farmers. This importance was highlighted by Anioke (2000). According to him,
cooperatives will help farmers and their household solve their socio-economic
problems effectively. He equally pointed out that through cooperatives, farmers
will mobilize own resources for investment purposes and utilization of existing
government extension delivery system. Each NPFS site is made up of primary
cooperative groups. Each group is made up of between 25 to 30 farmers. The
chairman, secretary and treasurer of the primary groups form the apex cooperative.
Within the apex, there is an elected chairman, secretary and treasurer. The
Apex cooperative serves as the primary cooperative groups micro finance bank.
It is through the apex groups that farmers assess the NPFS loans.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
Food is man’s most basic need. Successive governments in
Nigeria are quite aware of this fact and have attempted in one way or the other
to address the issue of food security. Over the years, concerted efforts have
been made by various administrations towards ensuring maximum food security. A
lot of programmes
have been designed and implemented to this effect. Unfortunately, the effect of
such attempts have not been significant (Nweze, 1995)
These programmes include; National Accelerated Food Production
Programme (NAFPP), the River Basin Development Authority, Agricultural
Development Programme (ADP), Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) and so on.
Often times, the set objectives of these programmes are not
accomplished. Ajakaiye (1987) opined that one factor that causes the failure of
these programmes is inadequate level. This according to Onugu (2007) is
basically so because such farmers lack the capital to expand their production.
Another major hitch-back of these programmes is that most of them become
dormant once the administration that introduces them leaves office. In order
words, they lack the capacity for continuity. There is also a general consensus
that output from such programmes does not justify the huge amount of funds
channelled into them.
Ojo (1987) and Ohabuchiro (2001) are of the view that
adequate funding has not been pumped into agricultural activities. They equally
opined that government has neglected agricultural activities. Enukora (2009),
an extension staff of the Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme
believe that farmers have the capacity to expand and boost agricultural
production if they are adequately funded. He opined that one of the major
problems of farmers is lack of credit facilities and even where loans are
available, they are obtained at cut throat rate under oath. He went further to
say that if adequate credit facility is
extended to these farmers at a low interest rate, they are capable of moving
from subsistence to commercial farming thereby contributing to food security.
The National Programme on Food Security (NPFS) is one of
government’s attempts at addressing the issue of food security. Over the years
agricultural programmes had centred on the top-down approach which tends to
keep the target beneficiaries by the side during the programmes’ planning
process. Consequently, such agricultural programmes could not achieve the set
objectives and therefore not sustainable. Group formation is thereby encouraged
under the NPFS. For this reason cooperatives are vehicle for accessing funds to
execute various economic enterprises provided by the NPFS.
It is therefore against this backdrop that the researcher is
set to examine the extent to which the National Programme on Food Security
(NPFS) has achieved its set objectives and enhanced food production. The study
is also set to examine how the lot of cooperative farmers have been bettered
through the NPFS.
Furthermore, the researcher hopes to make meaningful
recommendations that will make the NPFS, other operational programmes and
subsequent programmes on food security more feasible and effective.
1.3
Objectives of the Study
The broad
objective of this study is to determine the effect of the National Programme on
Food Security (NPFS) on food production.
The
specific objectives are to:
1.
determine the socio-economic
characteristics of the farmers benefitting from the NPFS;
2.
identify how the NPFS has
contributed to increasing food production/output;
3.
identify the problems associated
with the NPFS; and
4.
make recommendations based on the
findings.
1.4
Research Questions
The
research will answer the following questions:
1.
What is the effect of the NPFS on
food production?
2.
What are the socio-economic
characteristics of the respondents?
3.
How has the NPFS increased food
production/output?
4.
What are the problems associated
with the NPFS?
1.5
Statement of the Research Hypothesis
The
following hypothesis was formulated to guide the study:
H0;
The National Programme on Food security has not significantly increased food
production in the study area.
H1;
The National Programme on Food security has significantly increased food
production in the study area.
1.6
Significance of the Study
The findings of this research will be of great importance to
the government and policy makers. It will help them restructure and make
necessary adjustment and redesign the NPFS if there is need to do so. It will
also be helpful in designing and implementing subsequent programmes that will
also be targeted at food security.
1.7
Scope of the Study
The study covers activities of farmers who are benefitting
under the NPFS in Anambra. There are 9 demonstration sites, three in each of
the senatorial district.
1.8
Problems Encountered
In the course of this research the researcher encountered
the following problems:
·
Inadequate finance: The
researcher was constrained by the limited fund available for this
research.
·
High illiteracy level of the
Respondents/ Farmers benefitting from the NPFS: The
farmers are mostly illiterates. Filling the questionnaire was difficult
for them. The researcher has to help them out with filling the questionnaire
and this was a difficult task for the researcher.
·
The Location of the
demonstration sites: The demonstration sites are located
in far places. It was difficult getting to the sites.
·
Poor record keeping of the
farmers: The farmers have a poor attitude towards record
keeping. As a result of this, the researcher could not obtain all the necessary
data required for the purpose of this research.
·
Time: The
researcher was also constrained by time. The time available for this
work was not adequate for the researcher to carry out the research.
·
Non response: Some
of the farmers were not cooperative, they refused filling the
questionnaire. The researcher made repeated visits before some of the
questionnaires were returned. Some were not returned.
In spite of these shortcomings the results of this research
are valid and reliable.
1.9
Operational Definition of Terms
Pilot
phase: It is the experiment phase of a programme. A system of
testing a package on a small piece of land or group of people before
extending the result to others.
SPFS:
It means the Special Programme on Food Security. It is the
first phase of the programme on food security.
NSPFS:
It is the expanded phase of the SPFS. It means National
Special Programme on Food security.
NPFS:
This is the expanded phase of the NSPFS. It means the National
Programme on Food Security.
Food
Security: Food security simply refers to the ability of individuals
and households to meet staple food needs all year round.
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