1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Over the years, growth in the agricultural sector has always been crucial to the process of economic development. Evidence from developed nations that are now undergoing fast development suggests that agriculture was the driving force behind the expansion of non-agricultural industries and the improvement of general economic well-being. Agriculture-based economic growth can be very effective in lowering poverty and hunger. The demand for non-agricultural products and services is stimulated by rising employment and income in agriculture, which benefits non-farm rural income earners as well. Nigeria's primary economic activity has been agriculture, even with notable advancements in other sectors since the country's independence in 1960.
Due to its widespread job opportunities and role as the primary source of income for Nigeria's rural people, agriculture continues to be the country's largest economic sector. Since 1985, agriculture has contributed over 31% of Nigeria's gross domestic product, far more than the other two primary sectors of the economy whole sale and retail commerce, mining and quarrying, which includes the extraction of gas and crude oil and mining. Balogun (2017) defines food insecurity as the state in which individuals do not consistently have access to enough safe, nourishing, and socially acceptable food to lead healthy and productive lives, either physically or financially. Food insecurity is primarily caused by conflict, corruption, national policies that do not promote equitable access to food for everyone, environmental degradation, insufficient agricultural development, and crop pests and illnesses, according to the FAO (FAO, 2009).
Food security and insecurity are completely at odds with one another. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO, 2004), food insecurity is the condition in which people lack safe and sufficient access to enough food for normal growth and development as well as an active and healthy life. It might be brought on by a shortage of food, inadequate funds for purchases, improper distribution, or inadequate food consumption at home. Inadequate care and feeding practices, food insecurity, and unsanitary and unhealthy environments are the primary causes of low nutritional status. Food insecurity may be temporary, seasonal, or chronic.
Development of non-market mediated connections between the agriculture sector and the rest of the economy is also sparked by increases in agricultural production. These include providing environmental services and indirectly assisting with food security, poverty reduction, and a safe net and buffer function played by a thriving agricultural sector (FAO, 2004). In evaluating rate of return, easy-to-implicit indirect advantages of agriculture are sometimes overlooked, despite its tangible direct private contributions to family formation. The benefits of investing in agriculture are undervalued when the whole spectrum of its economic and social contributions is disregarded (Valdes and Foster, 2005).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Role of Animal Agriculture in Food Security and Sustainability.
1.2 Statement of Problems
An investigation showed that the sluggish development of the agriculture sector has been one of Nigeria's major hindrances. The macroeconomic climate produced disincentives that hampered the sector's success. The 1982 Economic Stabilisation Act imposed restrictions on income and altered spending on agriculture.
To be sure, the decline in the sector's share of the GDP hasn't always been caused by low productivity in agriculture forcing it to make way for a robust industrial sector. A number of new issues are preventing the agricultural sector from reaching its full potential. These issues include inadequate farm input delivery and supply, a lack of working capital, outdated technology, disease and pest infestation, inadequate post-harvest processing, shortages of labour, and restrictions on land use. The agriculture sector in Nigeria has to be corrected of its current structural inefficiencies in order to move its economy towards sustainable growth.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of Animal Agriculture in Food Security and Sustainability. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess the impact of the animal agricultural sector on the Nigerian economic growth; and
- To determine the contribution of animal agricultural security in food sustainability.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the contribution of animal agricultural security in food sustainability?
- What is the impact of the animal agricultural sector on the Nigerian economic growth?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H0: Animal agricultural sector has not contributed significantly to food security and economic growth of the country.
- H0: Animal agricultural sector has contributed significantly to food security and economic growth of the country.
1.7 Significance of Study
The outcome of this research revealed that researchers, hoping to learn more about this topic will find this study to be extremely helpful, and non-researchers can use it to further their own research endeavours. This research advances our understanding and may function as a model for future investigations.
1.8 Scope of the Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Role of Animal Agriculture in Food Security and Sustainability in Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
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