CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Food is of paramount importance to the survival, and growth
of every human being. The relationship between health and food cannot be over
emphasized, the consumption of unwholesome food has caused so much havoc
globally, it is an indisputable fact that human lives are lost or maimed daily
because of intake of contaminated food or food prepared with addictives and
chemicals that are injurious to health.
Food security exists when all people at all time have access
to safe nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life (F A O 1996). The
main goal of food security is for individual to be able to obtain adequate food
needed at all times and to be able to utilize the food multi – faceted.
Uko Aviomoh and salami (2000) stated that food security is
the ability of every citizen in a given country to have regular access to
enough food to meet up the daily nutritional requirement for healthy and
productive life.
Idachaba (2004) also stated that food security exists when
all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe,
and nutritious food to meet their daily needs for a nation to be food se3cyred,
the following evident must be noted.
1.
Suitable Agriculture methods which produce plants and animals food of high
nutritive value.
2.
Economic situation which makes it possible to produce the necessary food at a
cheaper rate and available to all.
3.
Controlled industrial procedures
4.
The conscientious and informed home – maker to manage.
The world bank (2000) identified three pillars that can be
under lined in planning food security. These are:
Food Availability
Food Accessibility and
Food Utilization.
Food is the most primary need that man cannot do without by
doing they make do with this food in order to achieve a healthy and progressive
living. It primarily that human body requires for the transmission of food
borne disease and toxicants, which invariably threatens public health.
Disease caused by contraindicated food constitutes one of
the most wide, spread and worrisome health problems of the contemporary world.
It has personal, national and global socio – economic consequence. As the
saying goes a healthy nation is a prosperous nation.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEMS
Food security in a nation is expected to contribute in our
small way to transformation the nations economy and induce rapid
development.
Baid (1999), commented that lack of
food security in any nation will not only slow down the nations development,
but will seriously disrupt a carefully, planned national development
programmed.
Therefore the statement of the problem is that, could lack
of adequate food supply be responsible for the unrest and constant rioting and
agitation almost the labour force and youths in Nigeria, which is a factor that
hinders national development? Number of families suffering in poverty and
starvation due to the fact that there is no enough provision for food
availability, accessibility and nutritional discrimination
analysis?
In today’s world where the global economy is dominated by a
few large national economics grouping, the smaller nations are finding it
difficult to complete, as well as to harness adequate resources for their
development this undoubtedly must be the plight of Nigeria. So what could be
done to help this situation? Education could be the answer, because knowledge
present is ignorance banished.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
Sizer and Whiney (2000) stated that in chronic starvation
lie the frustration, tension and envy of masses of people who will ultimately
resort to violence. Thy therefore take solace in looting, fighting, drugging,
robbery and burning of houses.
Therefore the purpose of the study is aims at educating the consumer on the
importance of a nation being food secured and how to improve household food
security.
Ø To enable the consumers and
bodies governing food resolutions engage in regular talks on the importance of
food security to individuals, families, the community and the nation as a whole
through regular classroom teaching, mass media and community meeting.
Ø To enable the government to
put more fund and machinery into agriculture.
1.4 SIGNIFICANT
OF THE STUDY
This research works is important to
individuals of all categories.
1.
To
enable the individual to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes
require knowing their right as consumers and descern or judge information and
consuming intelligently within their means or available resources.
2.
To
provide the necessary information about the food they buy e.g. expiry dates,
weight, brand names, cost and where to purchase them.
3.
It is also importance to the government do
that it will enable the government to plan ahead in case there is food scarcity
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.
Have
you heard of the word food security?
2.
Is lack of storage facilities a problem to
food security?
3.
Do
you secure your food for future purpose?
4.
What
are the challenges facing food security in Nigeria?
5.
What are the methods required for
achieving national food security in Nigeria?
1.6 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
FOOD:
This is any substance that people or animals eat or drink for maintains of life
and growth.
SECURITY: Freedom or protection from danger or worthy.
AVAILABILITY: Things that can be used to obtain or use to achieve
something.
ACCESSIBILITY: Means things that can be reached, the opportunity or right
to use.
PRESERVATION: Means method of preventing food deterioration.
ADDICTIVES: Means any substance including any source of radiation
expected to result that substance or its bye products becoming a part of its
characteristics.
CLEANLINESS: This means the application of good sanitary practice in the
handling of food, which reduce the incidence of spoilage.
NUTRITION: Means the scientific study of food and its utilization in
the body.
POVERTY:
The state of being poor.
UTILIZATION: The process of using ones ability to achieve much from
little.