Sorghum Food Security in Nigeria

45122

Abstract: The study examined the food security of sorghum in Nigeria using annual time series data that ranged from 1961 to 2018. The data were sourced from the FAO database and the collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The empirical findings showed sorghum to be an orphan crop as the production growth performance throughout the regime shift was poor given that area expansion rather than productivity was the major factor that influenced an increase in the production of sorghum. In addition, an increase in area was the major factor responsible for the change in average production within and between the regime shifts. It was observed that fluctuation in the average production between the regime shifts was caused by area risk and uncertainty viz. weather vagaries. It was established that the acreage allocation decision of the farmers was governed by both institutional and non-institutional factors. Furthermore, the future food security of sorghum production is not promising as the production will be marked by a gentle rise owing to the gentle rise in area as productivity will be marked by a marginal increase in trend. Therefore, the food insecurity of sorghum is another timing-bomb which the country will contain with given its versatile purposes. Thus, the policymakers need to take urgent steps to avert impending importation which will affect the country’s economy.

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Forecast , growth , nigeria , production , sorghum , trend

Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University

178

Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University