Edible Backyards: A Study of Household Food Security during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the contributions of household farming in palliating the economic effect of COVID-19 during the lockdown period. The study was questionnaire-based involving 510 participants randomly drawn from 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State. Data were collected on demographic data, household expenditure, farm plots size, crops cultivated, sufficiency and extent farm produce contributed to palliating the effect of COVID-19 shocks. Data analysis used descriptive statistics, PCA and ANOVA. 89% households were fully involved in farming during the lockdown which positively impacted on household economy and especially SDGs 2 and 12. The lockdown improved household food production and pushed towards a positive behavioral change towards food security. 85% households indicated interest in expanding their farm size after the pandemic. Land and capital unavailability were significant barriers to taking farming as a major occupation. Several policy options were proposed to improve food production at household levels to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 crisis on food security.

Citation

Lilian Mba, C., Akukwe, T.I., Nwokolo, C.C., Cornelius Mba, C., Okwueze, F.O. and Asuoha, G.C. (2022), "Edible Backyards: A Study of Household Food Security during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria", Osabuohien, E., Odularu, G., Ufua, D. and Osabohien, R. (Ed.) COVID-19 in the African Continent, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 263-277. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-686-620221024